Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Researcher Development Plans Paper

RESEARCHER SWOT ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW

For most students, research that involves the creation of a dissertation will demand a new skill

set and new ways of thinking. Your research in this program will undoubtedly require a mixture

of knowledge, dispositions, and skills – some of which you have already attained through the

course of your academic experience and some which are going to be new to you. It is vital to

assess your level of preparedness for the task ahead and then to develop a plan to gain the

knowledge, dispositions, and skills you may lack or that require enhancement. This assignment is

designed to provide you with an opportunity for self-assessment and planned development.

INSTRUCTIONS

The student will conduct a personal assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and

threats (SWOT) related to their research understanding, dispositions, and skills. Students will

devise a preliminary plan for personal growth as a scholar/researcher. This assignment will be

approximately 6-10 pages in length. It will have three major sections.

Section 1 – Key Result Areas: Identify Points of Research/Writing Development (1-2 pages)

Using your books and additional sources, create a bullet list of the knowledge, dispositions, and

skill, you will need to carry out the successful completion of the dissertation process. You may

briefly explain each point where needed, but lengthy descriptions are not required. Here is an

example of how you might approach this section of the assignment.

Research and Writing Knowledge Required:

1. Understanding of the five chapters of a dissertation

2. Being able to identify the critical elements of a literature review

3. …..

Research and Writing Dispositions Required:

1. Possess a passionate interest in the topic including a belief in the value of the study

2. Foster a positive attitude toward learning about statistics

3. ….

Research and Writing Skills Required:

1. Develop skills in the use of is Zotero.

3. ….

Section 2 – Conduct a Personal SWOT Assessment (2-4 pages)

Using the SWOT analysis approach, identify your strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats

with regard to your preparedness for the task of research and writing the dissertation. Carefully

consider each category and be realistic because you will use this analysis to create your plan for

scholar/researcher development. Feel free to elaborate where necessary.

Part 3 – Plan for Scholar/Researcher Development (3-4 pages)

Now that you have identified the knowledge, dispositions, and skills you will need to do

research, and you have realistically assessed your strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats

with regards to your research and writing preparedness for doing dissertation quality research,