University Assignment: Personal Development Plan for Research Skills

This homework assignment presents a student's personal development plan (PDP) focused on enhancing academic and research skills. The PDP begins with a self-assessment, identifying strengths such as problem-solving, management, and team-building abilities, while recognizing weaknesses in communication, research, and time management. The assignment outlines SMART objectives to address these weaknesses, including improving communication through English classes and enhancing research skills to acquire marketing knowledge. The document also explores note-taking skills, emphasizing methods like the Cornell and outline methods, and highlighting their importance in summarizing information. Furthermore, the assignment delves into research methodologies, differentiating between primary and secondary research, and emphasizing the importance of a well-defined research plan. Finally, the student proposes strategies to improve skills, such as attending seminars and developing a time schedule. Overall, the assignment reflects on the importance of continuous self-improvement in academic and professional contexts.

ACADEMIC AND
RESEARCH SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Personal development plan consists with various activities which are getting involved in
improving self knowledge and identity (Herbers And et. al., 2012.). It develop talents and build
human capital as well as employability so as to increase the quality of life. In other words, PDP
plan also contributes towards realisation of dreams and aspirations. The concept of this
assignment is to determine strength and weaknesses of an individuals and it will supports them in
research activities. Furthermore, the coursework also focus on various areas which must be
improved so as to attain long and short term objectives.
TASK 1
It is essential for individuals to assess their strength and weaknesses so as to make
improvements accordingly in specific areas. In addition, personal and professional development
plan assists people to take imperative decisions and gives them career growth in a certain time
period. Individuals develop this plan so as to attain career goals and objectives.
It can be done through by doing a thorough research on the subject and gathering all sort
of required information's plays a vital role to derive at a successful outcome. Not only gathering
information's but then analysing the same in respect of the situation and nature of the issue gives
a chance in most of the cases that the result is expected in a positive way.
STRENGTH WEAKNESSES
 One of my major strength I have good
problem solving skills; it will support
me to resolve all business problem in
an effective manner. Actually, More
practical assignment, where in we are
made to think taking into consideration
present market situation, present
business scenario and people involved
in them will definitely improve our
skill of problem solving.
 I also have adequate management and
 Due to my poor communication, I am
not able to interact with people; it
results I cannot recognise their needs
and wants effectively. Poor
communicate skills also affect my
career as I will not grab better
opportunities .
 My research skills are also not good, it
can affect my decisions making
abilities; thus I cannot get high cutting
edge. Effective research abilities will
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leadership skills; it refers how well we
understand out team members and
taking business decisions. Strong
managerial and leadership skills aid to
attaining business goals and objectives.
 As I worked in a team since many
years, so my team building skills are
also very much effective. Also worked
in a team for organising various events
during my university education as
mentioned earlier. Being a part of
different team each time during new
project will improve our skill. Also
understanding our responsibilities and
roles in the team will improve our skill.
provide to gain more information about
market.
 My time management skills are also not
so good; it reflect by not completion of
all tasks and activities before their
given time period. In addition, poor
time management skills affects the
ability to take quick business decision.
SMART objectives: -
 To improve my perform in order to get adequate output by using my strong points.
 To improve my communication and interpersonal skills as I can easily communicate with
people; in this manner I should learn English speaking classes.
 I also have to improve my research skills so as to get more knowledge about marketing;
thus I can easily acquire marketing tools.
 Improvements in problem solving skills assist me to grab various future opportunities and
resolve work based issues.
 Effective time management supports to manage all working activities effectively.
TASK 2
Note taking is another type of skills which should be there in individual as this says that
recording information which is captured from the another sources as well. This concept specifies
that a essence of data and information is that which free the mind from having a recall of
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everything in proper manner as well. This is a skill which needs to be identified in people so that
everyone can record their working in right context too (Deviandet. al., 2012).
Therefore such skill is that which can be mastered in great manner and thus, such kind of
skill should be there in every individual so that they can tell many things in summarize form too.
Therefore, this thing can be learned with the word listen, although acronym of such word is like
 L: Lead
 I: Ideas
 S: Summarize
 T: Talk
 E: Ends
 N: Notes
This is something which can help in learning such skill in better manner and thus it is the
easiest way of working. Accordingly such concept is that which can be used at the time of
meeting and presentation and has to be done in great way, as this thing help them to lead with
perfect working. Moreover there are some other methods are also available and such are as:
 Cornell method
 Outline method
 T-Notes
Therefore, these are such which can help a person to learn note taking skills. There are
some fields where concept is very much useful and some of those are as (Schools, colleges, at
time of presentation, need to talk in summarize form). Normally note taking skill is that which
also required to have active reading and listening skill too and this help to convert everything in
better manner. This concept does help in paraphrasing and summarizing important information
and data for the organisation individual learning as well.
Skills needed to
learn
Requirement of
learning
Sources of
learning skills
Time taken Where it can be
applied in right
context.
Note taking It is something
which help to
make work in
Note taking skill
can be learned in
various sources
This can be
learned in 4 to 5
This is such skills
which can be
applied at the
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concise and
summarize form
too.
and thus it can be
learned from
books and
internet in better
manner too.
months time of
presentation,
when meeting has
to be done for
short time period.
Overall, the note taking is not only related to recording of information although it also
include the mindset regarding listening and reading as well which do help in having a better
working although.
TASK 3
Moreover, company are such which do go with making research of market and thus such
thing help them to collect needed information and data in great manner and help organisation to
bring effective and efficient strategy and decision. This is something which make company to
fight with competition in market to attain their goals and objective in right context too. Some of
the method of research are as follows:
Primary research: These are such which is related to factual and first hand account
which was somewhere written by the researcher who was being part of such research study. In
other words it can also be said that it is a original research made by people (Shaffer,2011).
Although such kind of research is being done for the current problems in organisation and the
cost which is generated form this kind of research is very much high and it also takes a lot time
in working as well.
Secondary research: This is something which also analysis and interpretation of primary
research. Moreover, the method which was required to write the secondary research from the
collected information from primary research though. Such concept is totally opposite of primary
and it includes collecting information and data from books, newspaper and past history which
was already being used by some other company for their specific working. Although in this the
research is also carried by someone else and it also cost less. Generally it also does not take
longer time to have research in better manner.
For making a research of market it is required to have a plan before making any type of
research and thus it has to be done in proper manner and thus it makes them to make a better
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strategies and decision which can make them to stand by in market for earning a huge amount of
profit and productivity as well. The essentials of research which is needed to be include before
making any research plan and some of those are as follows:
 Particular aims
 Research Strategy
 Resources
 Biographical Sketch
 Research support
 Preliminary studies in better manner.
This is something which has to be included while making any plan for research. The main
steps which is being followed to have a perfect research plan.
Research plan
Research plan and its overview
Have a title
Identify aims and explain those
Strategy for research
Advice for perfect research strategy
Required to have graphics and videos
Innovation and approach
It is required to track for budget
Have progress report
Referencing is required
Review the research work
Have narrative
TASK 4
In order to improve my academic and personal skills, I should attend various seminars,
group activities and conferences. For this, I can took permission of my senior managers. Along
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with this, I need to develop a personal development with a specific time schedule so as to
organise all activities and make necessary improvements. Although according to strength and
weakness, it was required to improve the research and communication skills which can help in
bringing a smooth working in organisation as well (Saunders, 2011). Therefore, these are such
which help in developing personal skills and although this also manipulate to increase
performance in firm and such thing can help entity to earn higher profit with productivity as
well. Communication and research skill make people to build career too. Moreover, it is required
to identify that skills are being learned in better manner or not.
Skills which is
learned.
Why it was
required to be
learned
Sources required
to learn skills
Time taken to
learn
Did applied
somewhere in
working
Communication
skills
It was required to
learn because
communication is
base of every
work and this
helps in reducing
confusion as well.
Communication
skills can be
learned from
various sources
like internet,
through speaking
and reading
newspaper etc.
The time took to
learn such skill is
5 months.
Communication is
such which help
people to solve
their issues and
make people to
speak in formal
and informal both
format in better
manner.
Research skill Research skill is
such which helps
in solving many
problems and
issues occurred to
have a proper
way of working.
Research skills
are that which can
be learn from
books, lectures
and seminars too.
8 months Research skills
can be applied in
marketing where
it is required in
great manner
though.
Time
management
I have been
timetable
Attending
seminars on tips
This activity will
take almost 2 to 3
Effective time
management is
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skills follower all my
life. Sometimes I
do miss my
timetable.
We as a team
planned to meet
deadlines for the
assignment. In
addition, I
manage time for
my studies and
part time job to
build my career
and also earn for
my living
expenses.
on time
management, or
making it a part
of our course.
Reading book on
time
management.
months. beneficial to
complete all tasks
and activities
before their time
period. So as I get
chance to review
the overall work
and make
necessary
improvements in
it.
Therefore the communication and research skill is such which help to work in great way and
required to develop personal career which can make to achieve own goals and objectives in great
manner although.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been stated that personal development is such which a
individual to build its career with learning new skills and knowledge which can help them in
having a great work. Therefore research skill and communication skill was required to be learned
in better manner which can make them to have a great working as well. Various learning sources
are there which help to learn in better manner too. Strength and weakness is also being included
by me in this so that weaknesses can be identified and can go to improve such in great way. This
help in developing individual in proper manner and can become able to compete with others in
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market as well. Although it is required to have a identification of oneself so that can bring more
strength and can fight in market to have success among others too.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Saunders, M.N., 2011. Research methods for business students, 5/e. Pearson Education India.
Shaffer, B.A., 2011. Graduate student library research skills: is online instruction effective?.
Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning. 5(1-2). pp.35-55.
Shapiro, E.S., 2011. Academic skills problems: Direct assessment and intervention. Guilford
Press.
Soria, K.M., Fransen, J. and Nackerud, S., 2013. Library use and undergraduate student
outcomes: New evidence for students' retention and academic success. portal: Libraries
and the Academy. 13(2). pp.147-164.
Allen, V.L. ed., 2013. Children as teachers: Theory and research on tutoring. Academic Press.
Dweck, C.S., Walton, G.M. and Cohen, G.L., 2014. Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that
Promote Long-Term Learning. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gunn, C., Hearne, S. and Sibthorpe, J., 2011. Right from the start: A rationale for embedding
academic literacy skills in university courses. Journal of University Teaching &
Learning Practice. 8(1). p.6.
Devi, V., and et. al., 2012. Fostering research skills in undergraduate medical students through
Mentored Student Projects: Example from an Indian medical school. Kathmandu
University Medical Journal. 8(3). pp.294-298.
Herbers, J.E. And et. al., 2012. Early reading skills and academic achievement trajectories of
students facing poverty, homelessness, and high residential mobility. Educational
Researcher. 41(9). pp.366-374.
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