Evaluating Professional Development: A Research Report

This research report investigates the significance of professional development and the awareness of a professional environment. The report begins with an introduction highlighting the importance of a healthy and competent workplace. Part A outlines the aim of the research, which is to increase awareness of professional development, and provides a literature review on the concept of a professional environment and the role of self-awareness. Part B details the research methodology, including reflexivity and action research methods, and discusses data analysis using personality tests and social intelligence surveys. It also includes a critical evaluation of the research design. Part C presents a reflexive practitioner storyboard utilizing Gibb's reflective cycle to express views and experiences. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of professional growth and development. The report utilizes a variety of research methods and self-reflection techniques to explore its central theme.

Applying Critical Reflective
Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
Aim..............................................................................................................................................3
Purpose........................................................................................................................................3
Literature Review........................................................................................................................3
PART B...........................................................................................................................................5
Research Methodology................................................................................................................5
Data Analysis...............................................................................................................................6
Critical Evaluation of research design.........................................................................................7
PART C...........................................................................................................................................8
Reflexive Practitioners Storyboard..............................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
A professional environment always keeps individuals healthy, competent and creative in
the workplace which brings growth in their professionalism. While company also gets better
outcomes in term of success in the business market, healthy communication, high level of
employee retention (Gallardo, 2020). In this research report I will evaluate aim of the research
‘To increase awareness in people about significance of professional development”. In this
research report will use different methods of research which will support to collect appropriate
information for the research project.
PART A
Aim
“To increase awareness in people about significance of professional environment”
Purpose
Self-awareness about professional environment is the research topic. I do not have that
level scale over professional which I should have. I want to make my career in marketing field so
it is essential for me to have advance knowledge over the professional environment so that I can
apply on the good place for employment. This thing trigger in mind and inspires me to research
over the proposed topic. It is one of the most essential research topics for all because most of the
people do not have knowledge about professional environment and they just seek for the
employment. Professional environment is one that yields in a workplace which is full with highly
respectful, mature, competent and accountable employees who works towards a common goal
and learns different professional skills which makes them career-oriented and makes feel proud
as well to take their family in the workplace. But most of the job seekers just seek for job or do
job without prior thinking that they are actually grown up or their personality is improving
(Kaur, 2019). This research assignment will support those job seekers who are finding a job as
well as for employees who are currently working in the job but do not get any change in their
personality or do not learn anything which makes them career-oriented. With this research
assignment, everyone understands that a ideal professional development provides opportunities
to grow and progress within company and positive work culture makes individuals competent.

Literature Review
Theme 1: The Concept of Professional Environment
According to Paavola, (2020), a healthy professional environment is ideal when it comes
to maintain productive outcomes in a highly stressful environment. The most important thing is
that it influences happiness and motivation in employees and attracts new talent to be applied for
the job. Such environment also reflects individuals that how they can become highly productive
and efficient in the workplace by performing best in the workplace. When company always
maintain it’s professional decorum that supports to understand employees about their boundaries
clearly and resolves their minor issues automatically. A professional behaviour also supports
staff to avoid offending customers when they posses’ different perspectives or offending those
who belongs from different culture of backgrounds. A professional environment in the
workplace promotes individual’s safety, growth and goal attainment. Organization can gain a
positive working environment by concentrating on it’s overall culture, supporting individual’s
growth and makes them feel and comfortable at the workplace. In addition, such environment
always makes employees career-oriented in their professional life and provides opportunity to
upgrade their existing skills and develops new skills which improves their professionalism and
makes them more competent.
On the other hand, Rubens and at al., (2018), have criticized over above sated fact in their
published articles that such working environment creates difficulties in the workplace while
communicating with other staff. It often brings various issues with payment and logistics.
Sometimes high professional environment leads loss of productivity due to this company have to
face financial loss. A professional environment works best in the workplace but it cannot be
service-oriented. Griggs and et.al., (2018) dictated example of a restaurant company in their
published book that if a restaurant has good result-oriented working environment then it cannot
expect that it’s staff is good in offering services. they can be perfect in their work profession in
professional hours but company cannot leave employees schedule over the employees.
Theme 2: Role of self-awareness
Authors Finefter-Rosenbluh, (2017) in their books that it is important for the people to have
awareness about role of professional environment in their life because when they understand

value of the professionalism then they never go for the company. They always try to choose that
company which makes them career-oriented and improves their capabilities through which they
can achieve more success and can gain all framed goal of life. So, people must have self-
awareness either they are employees or the students. Corlett and Mavin, (2018) illustrated that
most of the people become highly confused while selecting job role. First is that each one should
have knowledge about own strengths, weakness, on the basis of this, they seek for the job. Most
of the employees or job seeker just looks fopr the job to keep hope that they will get good salary
but when they get salary that time, they ignore working environment of the company and their
growth. After some time later, they become frustrate and looks for the job somewhere else. To
avoid such consequences, it is important for the people to increase their self-awareness about job,
company’s profile, it’s culture, future growth, development growth, employee retention etc. then
they should seek for the job or continue for the job. When a company have good professional
environment that means it provides wide range of opportunity to the staff and new joiners which
keeps them competent, result-oriented, career-oriented in the professional world.
PART B
Research Methodology
Reflexivity research method
It is a type of ‘Self-reflection Method’ that is designed for the self-reflection. This
method is not focused on achieving insights through personal journey of self-discovery. While
reflectivity is a way of standing outside the self to analyse. With this method individuals enables
to describe personal journey but cannot give brief description of moment of insight. This self-
reflection tool increases shared knowledge about ethnographic focus of self-inquiry. This method
gives more effective and impartial analysis (Friedman and at al., 2020). It involves in examining
and consciously acknowledging the assumptions as well as preconceptions that brings into the
research and that shapes the outcome. The major drawback of this method is that it is considered
potentially more complex rather than being reflective. This research method will be used for the
research assignment because this report is properly based on self-experience which gains by me
while dealing with critical incidents. This method is extremely good as compared others because
it provides opportunity to share views with others which gains during dealing with critical

incident. So, this method is considered effective for the research and it is important for self-
reflection. I will use this method to share my views which I gained during dealing with critical
incident.
Action research
It is another research method that is used for enhancing self-practice. It involves various
type of actions, evaluation as well as critical reflection and leads changes in practice then
implemented. Action research often considers to as ‘intervention’ and ‘collaboration’ or ‘applied
research’ or ‘praxis research’. It is a participatory action research which is concerned with cycles
of critical reflection (Haj-Bolouri, Bernhardsson and Rossi, 2016). There are various type of
action research i.e. individual research, collaborative research, school-wide research and district
wide research. The main purpose of the action research method is to learn through actions then
leads on to personal and professional development. This method brings professional growth and
supports individuals to focus over the one aspect of their practice which they would like to
develop or improve. In the research action method uses different type of reflection cycle to
portray self-reflection such as Gibb’s reflective model or Gardener’s cycle of reflection. Gibb’s
reflective cycle is a self-reflection cycle in which highlights six stages i.e. description, feeling,
evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan. This reflective cycle is easier as compared other
method because it influences people to think systematically about the experience which they
experienced during a specific situation or activity. This method is appropriate for the proposed
research project because it will help me to portray self-reflection which I have gained from the
incident. This method is important for the further research as well.
Data Analysis
Personal Data
This reflective cycle will be used to evaluate and analyse personal data in effective manner. To
evaluate personal data will be used two personal data sources i.e. personality test and social
intelligence survey. These are undertaken in self-awareness diagnostic personal data. Personality
test includes ENTP (extraverted, intuitive, thinking and perceiving). It is considered one of the
16 different personality types which is identified by Myers-Briggs type Indicator. People with
such personality are often defined as innovative, expressive and clever. These personality people

are less interested in gaining detail over here and now (Dhaliwal, Singh and Singh, 2018). They
just believe in generating theories and ideas (Sweet and et.al., 2019). ENTP shows verbal
strength of individuals who usually love to argument for own sake with others and demonstrates
their debating skills. This ENTP test is considered as innovative and ingenious at problem-
solving. ENTP (Debater) is the person with the different personality traits like Extraverted,
Intuitive, Thinking and Prospecting. So, they are tended to bold, deconstructing and rebuilding
ideas with the great mental agility. This personality test has been used to demonstrate personality
traits like ENTP through which I analysed what type traits that I have which makes me a good
ENTP. Social Intelligence Survey is another personality data that is also used to collect different
personal data. This test is used to analyse individuals social and emotional skills. This method is
also used to for collecting personal data in respect of social intelligence. It is a type of online
assessment tool that is designed to quickly highlights specific problematic behaviours, toxic
behaviours and also demonstrates nourishing behaviours as display by a specific person whom
one trying to understand. This test also has been done to gather personal data like communication
skill, empathy skills while communicating with wide number of people. Thus, personality test
and social intelligence survey has been used to collect my personal data in effective manner.
Critical Evaluation of research design
I used literature review for the research which gives me the foundation for the research.
Literature reviews gives me theoretical aspect through which I enable to support aim of the
research I effective manner. To collect information over the proposed research topic I has been
used various research methods like reflexivity research method, action research method which is
the major part of research design. These methods are quite effective for the proposed research
because it allows researchers to portray self-reflection which they gain from any incident. The
research aim is to increase awareness in people about professional environment whereas
reflexivity research method is used to demonstrate self-reflection through which it can analyse
where we stand. This method is quite good for the propose research because on the behalf of this
method I can enable to express my views over the professional development (PATTERSON,
2019). On the other hand, action research is used for the research that is also good method
through which I will enable to give brief information about feeling and experience which I
achieved during critical incident. This method proposes Gibb’s reflective cycle wherein this
cycle helps to portray own experience, skills and issues which I faced during the incident. With

the support of different phases of reflective cycle, I will enable to identify my weak areas and
strengths. While action plan of self-reflective model will support me to develop and improve
identified weak areas. Thus, this research design structure is good for the research assignment
but the major drawback of this method is that it is quite time-consuming and less evidence-based
methods.
PART C
Reflexive Practitioners Storyboard
I will use Gibb’s reflective cycle to express my views and knowledge which I have
gained from the research assignment (Rubens and et.al., 2018). This model is a part of action
research method. Gibb’s reflective cycle comprises six phases such as description, feeling,
evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan. I will use all phases of model to evaluate my
experience which are mentioned below in following manners:
Description
This research project is new for me because it’s theme was increasing awareness in
people about professional environment. I have done many research projects in which I used to
follow a proper structure like introduction, background, scop, literature review, research
methodology data analysis etc. but this research assignment was quite new for me. At the initial
phase I confused where to start the project then I took guidance from senior authority to start this
research assignment. I initially make schedule to enlist overall tasks so that I can portray better
conclusion of the research assignment. Initially I developed research aim on which whole study
would be going to complete. The research topic was ‘self-awareness about professional
environment’. This research topic was quite new for me but I was too excited because I always
looking for to learn something new (Uygun and Aribas, 2020). I developed aim of the research
assignment is to improve awareness in people about professional development specially in job
seekers and employees. Then I research over the proposed topic to gather maximum information
so that I can develop effective research assignment. Literature review also used by me to record
different perspectives of different authors over the proposed topic. I have good research skills
and critical skills so I did not take more time to write literature review. I used some research

methods as well to collect personal data of researchers. This segment was new for me because
there were several research methods which were quite different as I posses’ knowledge. Thus, I
used different research methods for the research project and justified them with logical
answering. I also wrote over self-awareness diagnostic resource which includes various type of
personality tests like ENTP and social intelligence survey. It was quite testing but earlier I did
not have knowledge about test, but when I read about personality tests and I used to collect
information about personal data. During this research assignment I got to know that I have good
time management skills because I started my project too late because I took more time to
understand overall project. Thus, assigned research project was made quite effective rather than
others after management of time and hard work. Thus, I enabled to know that I have ability to
manage time and myself in more productive manner.
Feeling
Priorly, I was bit anxious to see overall assignment because seriously I was unable to
understand that from where I should start. this assignment was quite different from other
research assignments so it was feeling that this project was quite complexed as other research
project. But when I asked my teacher to the assignment that time, I was feeling that it is quite
simple research project. When I read whole research assignment’s guidelines and indicative
content then I became too excited and was feeling good (Insa Cabrera, 2016). At initial level, I
was facing bit difficulties because it was first wherein, I have to develop a project aim by
analysing overall research contents. But later on, I started to feeling good and seems like I
already know everything. However, this project has been improved my existing skills, for which
I unaware and brought high understanding in me about different research methods that used to
draw self-reflection over the proposed research topic. This research assignment has been
enhanced my knowledge about professional environment which is required to have in all who are
planning to settle their career in MNC’s or doing job in company to keep hope that they will get
growth. With the support of proposed research assignment, I understood that a effective
professional environment is the key of success. if a person have employment in multinational
company but they are getting working environment like that which improves their skills and
makes them career-oriented then there is no mean to work. I want to make my career in
accounting and marketing field so it is essential for me to homework over professional

environment then I must go for job before it all is reductant. This research assignment has
enhanced my knowledge as well as self-awareness over the professional environment which
would support me to pick right job in future as career perspective (Adeani and at al., 2020). I am
really to know that I have good social intelligence skills and I posses’ different personality traits
with the support of personality test i.e. ENTP and Social Intelligence survey test. But while
completing the research project I also felt that there have some skills, from which I am lacking
behind like analytical skills, good written skills which makes me disappointed.
Evaluation
By making this project I felt that there were some skills which are quite good and I
posses them i.e. verbal communication skill, time-management skill, research skills and ICT
skills which supported me to complete project on time (Rimmer, 2018). But I also have faced
various challenges while preparing this research assignment such as inability to communicate
with others through written communication and analytical skills which helped to draw
conclusion in effective manner. So, I have decided that I will improve my weak areas which will
assist in growth and development for future carer perspective.
Analysis
From the above discussion it can be analysed that it is important for the person to posses’
good research skill, time management skills, communication, written and ICT skills then they
can prepare an effective research assignment. These skills also require in professional
environment because such companies follow professional development then they always expect
from the staff that they must posses’ good catching power, high level of understanding, good
enthusiasm level and risk takers (Middleton, 2017). With these skills company’s always takes
initiative to make it’s workforce competent and career-oriented in the workplace. I also analysed
that this project was quite different from other research projects because it involves such research
method through which individuals can give self-reflection. I also analysed that I need to develop
some key areas like analytical skills, written skills, problem-solving skills which will make my
CV attractive for the employment and improves my personality in both manner personal and
professional context.
Conclusion

It can be concluded that from the above analysis that I required to improve my weak
areas which I identified during the research assignment so that if I get same project in future then
I can complete it more effectively and precisely.
Action Plan
It is a last stage of Gibb’s reflective model which stated that actions are taken by
individuals based on self-evaluation in the context of skills and improved them for future
perspective. As I have decided that I will improve my all weak areas which I have determined
during the research assignment such as analytical skills and written communication skills. I used
personal and professional development plan (PDP) to improve my weak areas because these
skills are required in future career in professional world and personal one as well. So, I have
planned to develop professional development plan which helps me to increase my existing skill
as well as my weak areas.
Skills to be improved Resources Activities to be
undertaken
Time to be
undertake
n
Evaluation
Written Communication
skill
Read good
journals &
books,
Guidance of
teachers
I read good
journals and
books that
helped me to
understand
how to write
formal
communication
in written form
(Varlejs,
2017).
3 Weeks I participated in
essay
competition and
gathered
feedback from
others. When I
analysed overall
feedbacks then I
got too much
appreciations
from others.
Thus, I
improved my
written
communication

skills.
Analytical skills Play brain
games, join
debate club,
build
mathematical
skill,
Guidance
from teachers
I join debate
club that helps
me to improve
my analytical
skills.
Meanwhile
period, I joined
online class to
improve my
mathematical
skills.
4 Weeks
I participated in
debate
competition to
analyse my
analytical skills.
Thus, I
improved my
analytical skills
(Andrew, 2020).
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded significance of professional environment in the context of future
success. it has evaluated research topic with the support of literature review in which recorded
different perspective of authors over the proposed topic. It has been concluded different research
methods like research action, reflexivity research method and others to portray self-evaluation of
researchers which have achieved during the project. Gibb’s reflective cycle has been summarized
in this research assignment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Paavola, K., 2020. The Significance of Training in Employee Engagement: case Study of a
Consulting Firm.
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professional development plan in an MBA leadership course. The International Journal
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enhance insider qualitative research processes. International Journal of Qualitative
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Corlett, S. and Mavin, S., 2018. Reflexivity and researcher positionality. The SAGE handbook of
qualitative business and management research methods, pp.377-399.
Friedman, V.J and at al., 2020. Self-in-field action research in natural spaces of encounter:
Inclusion, learning, and organizational change. International Review of Qualitative
Research, 13(2), pp.247-264.
Dhaliwal, U., Singh, S. and Singh, N., 2018. Reflective student narratives: honing
professionalism and empathy. Indian J Med Ethics, 3, pp.9-15.
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Rubens, A and et.al., 2018. Self-awareness and leadership: Developing an individual strategic
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of Management Education, 16(1), pp.1-13.
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Gibbs.
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