Skills
The involvment of students in research leds to the development of a wide range of skill sets.
Research-Specific Skills
Research skills refer to an individual’s ability to find and evaluate useful information related to a specific topic. These skills include performing investigations, analysing, and forming hypotheses or solutions to a particular issue.
Hypothesis generation. Taking what is known and making an educated guess about what will happen in a given situation. It helps the students apply what they have learned to come up with new ideas.
Data analysis. (quantitative and qualitative) The ability to handle often numerical data to quantify a problem, or address the "what" or "how many" aspects of a research question. Qualitative data describes qualities, characteristics or opinions. Collected using questionnaires, interviews, or observation, and frequently appears in narrative form.
Statistics. Students are often required to carry out analysis and interpretation of data explaining the outcomes and gaining meaningful insight from data. The ability to understand statistics is a transferable skill as they are used to understand many aspects of life and inform the decision-making process.
Literature searching. Search and evaluation of the available literature in a given subject area. Demonstrating an understanding of the literature review justifies the value of doing research on a given topic by showing what is already known, what is yet to be learned and the relevance of work.
Employability Skills
Research skills are valued by employers in various industries and are beneficial to employees in all types of positions. Many employers value research skills in their employees, especially when it comes to research-oriented positions such as those in analysis and data management.
Teamwork In the research process, there is nothing wrong with comparing your findings with fellow researchers. Combining different results and listening to different points of view make it likely that your final output will be fully developed and useful.
Confidence Undertaking research can build confidence in the ability to apply subject knowledge and as an individual through the tangible demonstration of a skill set.
Project Planning / Time management skills are essential when researching as they require the individual to break down tasks into more manageable parts and effectively tackle each piece.
Communication A crucial element of the research process is preparing a detailed report. This requires excellent writing, presentation and compilation skills. Researchers must identify what information to put in a report depending on the target audience.
Transferable Skills
Many of the skills already mentioned are transferable to different situations but a few stand out as key.
Critical thinking is a self-directed process that involves using observation and deductive reasoning to analyse information and reach conclusions. The ability to think critically allows the individual to question the validity of the information presented to them in an unbiased manner and allows informed choices to be made. It is a core graduate attribute.
Networking To be effective in research - knowledge and support is required from a range of places. The student's ability to network and make connections with others is developed to foster the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest.