Academic and Research Skills and Personal Development Report Analysis

This report delves into the realm of personal development, emphasizing the significance of academic and research skills. It begins with a self-assessment, identifying strengths and weaknesses to establish a foundation for improvement. The report then explores the setting of SMART objectives to guide skill enhancement, followed by a detailed examination of note-taking techniques, highlighting their role in acquiring new knowledge. Furthermore, it outlines the development of a research plan, differentiating between primary and secondary research methods. The report also reflects on the progress made towards achieving personal development goals, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and skill refinement through activities like group discussions and seminars. The report provides a structured approach to personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, strategic planning, and continuous development.

Academic and Research Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Reflection of own strengths and weaknesses........................................................................1
1.2 Assessment............................................................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
3.1 & 3.2 Note taking..................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
4.1, 4.2 & 5.1 Academic research project...................................................................................3
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
6.1 & 6.2 Reflection on own progress.........................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is the process which includes the activities related to improvement of
awareness and development of talent for realisation of dreams and aspirations. It is ongoing
process which is going on entire life of person (Best and Kahn, 2016). This will provides the
opportunity to the individual is achieve their career goals and aims in short period of time.
Important skills which are required to have by individual are academic, learning and research
skills.
In the present report explain about, skills audit for determination of skills possessed by an
individual, Deciding of SMART objectives, use of note taking skills to learn new skills and
development of research plan along with application of primary and secondary methods. Also,
formulation of personal development plan.
TASK 1
1.1 Reflection of own strengths and weaknesses
To gain success in life and develop good impressions on other people, it is necessary for
an individuals to examine own abilities and skills. The different knowledge and skills should be
in a person for the purpose of career growth and development. In order to determine skills,
person is go with the personal assessment. It is helpful in determine main strengths as well as
weakness of person. In addition to this, person can use the personal development plan as it helps
in determine improvement areas as well as rapid growth of career. Plan is helpful for an
individual to achieve goals of company in significant manner. For prepare, better development
plan, it is necessary for a person to carried out an investigation in detailed manner as it aids to
provide positive outcomes. Under this, by using my personal development plan, I can determine
main improvement areas (Steenbergen-Hu, Makel and Olszewski-Kubilius, 2016). It will be
beneficial for me in future context. Firstly, there is a need to me to analyse my own strengths and
weaknesses. These are given below:
Strengths: Under this, my main strength is that I have an ability to search new and
innovative ideas. I give full contribution in doing the activities as well as tasks at workplace. I
have an ability to deal with team members by motivating them. So that they can work together
and focus on achieve the set tasks and objectives with in given time period. I am good in
statistics that may be aids in conduct an investigation through data analysis, description of
statistics, identify probability behind occurrence of outcomes etc.
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Weaknesses: My main limitation is communication skills. I hesitate to communicate in
front of group and many people. My writing skills are not much impressive as comparison to
others. My time management skill is also not good. I am not able to complete task according to
given activities.
1.2 Assessment
Under this, it is important that objectives should be SMART so that employees can focus
on achieving them with in given time period (Ary and et. al., 2018). I set the objectives in order
to improve my time management, conflict management, communication skills and many others.
It is helpful for me to attain my career aims with in specific period of time. I can improve all
these my skills with in 6 to 7 months.
TASK 2
3.1 & 3.2 Note taking
It is important activity which includes collection of information from different sources
such as seminars, lectures, face to face interaction etc. It is important skill which helps the
individual to learn new aspects. For taking notes in effective manner required to have good
listening and reading skills. There are large number of benefits are attained due to having
effective skills of note taking such as removing of weakness, learning of new aspects, attainment
of the trust of others, improving their own importance and development of overall personality.
This will provides the opportunity about assessing their own potential about learning and
developing new skills and traits. There is significant role is played by the skill of note taking in
development of the overall personalty of individual and attain higher growth in successive years.
Basically, this is used by me for the purpose of removing my weaknesses. The sources which are
used for the purpose of taking different notes is defined below:
Making of notes through application of listening skills
This will includes the description of sources from which information is attained through
the application of listening skills. The skills which are improved under this are communication
and time management. Sources which are used is defined below:
Class room lectures: It is effective method which helps to improve communication
skills. To improve skill of communication required to attend on regular basis (Padgett, 2016).
This will helps in development of confidence and provides the opportunity is to speak in front of
large number of individuals. It helps me to share my own views and ideas and provide my equal
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contribution in different activities. Ultimately, this will results in improvement of
communication and contributes in building higher confidence.
Direct interact with professionals: This will includes the interaction with professionals
and seniors which provides the opportunity is to attain their views and shares about they can use
their traits and skills to effectively present and write content (Patten and Newhart, 2017). This
option is best suited to me as this will provides me chance to take wide information about their
real life experiences. This will helps to develop my overall personality which helps to attain
positive outcomes.
Making notes through application of reading strategies
This will includes the application of readings skills to effectively taking the notes from
the such kind of sources. The source which is used under this names as Aptitude test which
contributes in improvement of time management skill.
Aptitude test: This will includes the process which includes formulation of different
questions which are needed to answered by applicant. This will provides the opportunity to
assess the negative aspects which lowers down capability. I used this to improve my team
management strategy as this will helps to get the support of others and achievement of group
goals. I answered different type of questions related to time management which provides the
opportunity to improve my this skills and increase my growth opportunities.
TASK 3
4.1, 4.2 & 5.1 Academic research project
Research plan refers to the written document which includes the activities that are conducted by
researcher with the motive of completing research. It involves the tools , processes and
techniques opted by investor for completing the study. Research is defined as process of
gathering and analysing data of the specific topic. It is beneficial for the researcher also as it
helps in enhancing his knowledge according toe the current market trend as well as the new
policies which are required for the business growth. There are two types of research which are
opted by the researcher to collect the data named as primary research & secondary research.
These are explained as below:
Primary research: This type of research is used to collect data from the people or citizen
directly through questionnaire, surveys and interviews (Pears and Shields, 2016). Under this
method of data collection, collected data is fresh & updated as per the requirement of the report.
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Huge funding is required to conduct this kind of research. Primary research is a time consuming
process and it involves more number of manpower in order to complete it fast & get accurate
result.
Secondary research: It is also an effective research which help researcher to collect the
data that is already examine and available towards the topic. In this context, investigator take
support from various aspects such as articles, journals, magazines, books and many more. With
the help of this researcher gather data and information towards the research topic in order to
draw a valid conclusion (Belone and et. al., 2016). Along with this, it helps in saving cost and
time as well which support researcher at the time of taking final decision in relation of research
topic.
Along with this, researcher needs to select right method which is totally based on the
research topic and nature as well. Thus, it is vital for investigator to undertake an effective
research plan which help in determining the ways to completing the whole research in an
appropriate way. On the other side, before evaluating the research, researcher have to consider
various factors which are as follows:
 Identify the research topic
 Evaluate aims and objectives
 Formulate as well as implement strategies
 Determine the required resources to undertake entire research activities.
 Time scale
 Conclusion
Along with this, it is vital for investigator to develop as effective plan in order to evaluate
determine the way to complete the research. In this there are some steps which follow by the
investigator at the time of implement the plan are as follows:
 Determine the topic
 Evaluate the issue relate with topic
 Formulate the plan
 Review the plan
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TASK 4
6.1 & 6.2 Reflection on own progress
It is important for every individuals to improve their skills by taking part in various
seminars, communication process, group presentation and many more (Moule, Aveyard and
Goodman, 2016). In this context, I can improve my personal and academic skills by taking part
in group discussion. With this help of this, I can easily improve my skills. For this, I will take
support from my senior manager. In this context, my strength also help me in attaining my career
objectives which leads in enhancing the effectiveness of the business which contribute in
generating larger profitability level at market place. For this learning is important which refer to
continuous process as it helps individual to improve their learning activities as per regular basis.
In addition of this, I also tale part in seminars and conferences which help me in attaining my set
objectives which relate with career growth. For this, I can take support of personal development
plan to develop their skills which support me at the time of performing my job activities within
business organization as well.
Personal
developmen
t target
Long and
short term
target
How will I
attain my
target?
What kind
of activities
are
undertake
to attain
the same?
And what
support do
I want?
Review
date
Progress
towards the
set target
Action
required
Actual date
of attaining
target
Improve my
communicat
ion skills in
3 months
Short term For
improving
my
communicat
1st August In this I
improve my
skills by
50%
In this, I
required to
take part in
group
1st
November
5

ion skills, I
required to
take part in
seminars,
group
discussion
and various
communicat
ion
activities.
For this, I
need
support of
my senior
manager at
workplace.
discussion
and
seminars for
improving
my
communicat
ion skills.
Improve
time
management
skills
Short term I will attain
my target by
increasing
my
involvement
in various
activities of
the business.
By this I
will easily
understand
that How to
manage all
the task as
per specific
5th August I improve
my skills as
per
requirement
s.
For
improving
this skill, I
needs to
formulate as
well as
analysis the
time
management
plan which
helps in
managing
time as per
task.
5th
November
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time. For
this I need
support
from top
level
management
.
Improve my
writing
skills
Long term I will attain
my target by
taking part
in written
competition.
For this I
can practice
relate with
written
skills. For
improve my
written
skills, I need
support
from my
senior
management
.
7th August I also
improved by
skills by
80%
For this, I
required
various
classes
which help
me in
improving
my writing
skills.
7th
November
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above given report that personal development is helpful in
develop career with learning knowledge and new skills which aids in better work in future.
Under this mention report studies about identification of personal strengths and weaknesses.
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Communication and research skills was needed to learned in an effective way to improve them.
Different learning sources are studies in order to learn some thing. It is helpful in develop a
person in an effective way and also able to compete with the other people.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Best, J. W. and Kahn, J. V., 2016. Research in education. Pearson Education India.
Steenbergen-Hu, S., Makel, M.C. and Olszewski-Kubilius, P., 2016. What one hundred years of
research says about the effects of ability grouping and acceleration on K–12 students’
academic achievement: Findings of two second-order meta-analyses. Review of
Educational Research. 86(4). pp.849-899.
Ary, D. and et. al., 2018. Introduction to research in education. Cengage Learning.
Padgett, D. K., 2016. Qualitative methods in social work research (Vol. 36). Sage Publications.
Patten, M. L. and Newhart, M., 2017. Understanding research methods: An overview of the
essentials. Taylor & Francis.
Pears, R. and Shields, G. J., 2016. Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. Palgrave
Macmillan.
Belone, L. and et. al., 2016. Community-based participatory research conceptual model:
Community partner consultation and face validity. Qualitative Health Research. 26(1).
pp.117-135.
Moule, P., Aveyard, H. and Goodman, M., 2016. Nursing research: An introduction. Sage.
Berkowitz, R. and et. al., 2017. A research synthesis of the associations between socioeconomic
background, inequality, school climate, and academic achievement. Review of
Educational Research. 87(2). pp.425-469.
Turabian, K. L., 2018. A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations:
Chicago style for students and researchers. University of Chicago Press.
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