What Skills Do I Need?

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore the question of whether you have what it takes to undertake and complete a postgraduate research journey. It is not just about knowing research methodology and being able to write but is also about planning and managing yourself. There is a wide range of personal, professional and technical skills that you will need to draw upon, including intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, flexibility, project management skills, self management skills, communication skills, academic skills and belief in yourself. If you undertake a professional doctorate, additional skills to develop include critical reflexivity for learning, willingness to work in multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary spaces and ability to connect/communicate with diverse audiences. Doing a postgraduate research degree is inherently a learning experience, so, while you may not have all the attributes at the beginning, they will most certainly develop as you go along. To support this process, we show you how you can audit your skills.

Appendix: Ph.D. Skills Questionnaire (Source: Authors)

Step 1: :

Respond to the statements below in relation to your honest perceptions of your own abilities: use 1 for strongly disagree, 2 for disagree, 3 for neither agree nor disagree, 4 for agree, 5 for strongly agree. Circle the appropriate number for each statement.

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree
1. I possess a genuine desire to explore.	1	2	3	4	5
2. I am able to dispassionately critique the literature as well as my own research.	1	2	3	4	5
3. I have an open attitude and am opportunistic.	1	2	3	4	5
4. I am able to plan effectively, set priorities and manage multiple activities.	1	2	3	4	5
5. I am very good at managing my personal as well as financial resources.	1	2	3	4	5
6. I have a talent for writing effectively.	1	2	3	4	5
7. I fully understand the university policies and support services available to me.	1	2	3	4	5
8. I have the gift of being persistent and persevering with my work.	1	2	3	4	5
9. I am good at asking insightful questions.	1	2	3	4	5
10. I have the ability to synthesise information to create an evidence-based argument.	1	2	3	4	5
11. I possess a willingness to adapt and learn.	1	2	3	4	5
12. I have the ability to project manage and meet related milestones.	1	2	3	4	5
13. I am self-disciplined and able to work independently in unfamiliar surroundings.	1	2	3	4	5
14. I am able to verbally communicate my ideas and actively engage in discussions.	1	2	3	4	5
15. I have knowledge of the research environment in which I will be operating.	1	2	3	4	5
16. I would describe myself as tenacious.	1	2	3	4	5
17. I demonstrate humility and am aware of what I don’t know.	1	2	3	4	5
18. I am able to bring information together to present a coherent argument.	1	2	3	4	5
19. I have the knack of coping with ambiguity and managing change.	1	2	3	4	5
20. I am good at making decisions and monitoring my progress to achieve results.	1	2	3	4	5
21. I am self-motivated and able to take initiative.	1	2	3	4	5
22. I am an active listener and can contribute to the research and learning of others.	1	2	3	4	5
23. I possess all the appropriate research and analytical skills for my project.	1	2	3	4	5
24. I have the capacity of being resilient and can rebound from disappointments.	1	2	3	4	5
25. I have the talent to be creative and to look at things from different perspectives.	1	2	3	4	5
26. I am good at drawing on appropriate concepts to arrive at a critical assessment.	1	2	3	4	5
27. I am able to problem solve and overcome obstacles.	1	2	3	4	5
28. I am a very organised person.	1	2	3	4	5
29. I believe I am fully responsible for my learning, the process and the outcomes.	1	2	3	4	5
30. I work effectively with my supervisor and ask for help when needed.	1	2	3	4	5
31. I am capable of using computer applications appropriate to my project.	1	2	3	4	5
32. I pride myself on being professional at all times.	1	2	3	4	5
33. I am able to think inventively and to develop original approaches to problems.	1	2	3	4	5
34. I am able to achieve the right balance between breadth and depth of focus.	1	2	3	4	5
35. I am responsive to feedback.	1	2	3	4	5
36. I am very effective at managing my time.	1	2	3	4	5
37. I have undertaken a frank assessment of my own strengths and weaknesses.	1	2	3	4	5
38. I am good at networking, maintaining connections and promoting my research.	1	2	3	4	5
39. I am able to effectively analyse data to achieve research outcomes.	1	2	3	4	5
40. I am good at respecting and looking after myself.	1	2	3	4	5
The following questions are primarily for postgraduates pursuing or intending to pursue a professional doctorate, but may also be relevant to PhD students, depending upon the nature of your research project:
41. I am able to critically reflect on information from academic as well as non-academic audiences.	1	2	3	4	5
42. I do not have a rigid allegiance to a single discipline.	1	2	3	4	5
43. I am comfortable interacting with academics as well as non-academics.	1	2	3	4	5
44. When I receive unexpected or contrary (to your views) input or feedback, I critically consider it rather than dismiss it.	1	2	3	4	5
45. I can draw upon different disciplines when I consider a research problem.	1	2	3	4	5
46. I know I can modify my communication content when I interact with multiple audiences.	1	2	3	4	5
47. I am open to new perspectives that I encounter.	1	2	3	4	5
48. I can comfortably interact with others who come from different disciplines.	1	2	3	4	5
49. I respect the relative value and importance of academic and non-academic professional/practice-oriented perspectives.	1	2	3	4	5
50. If I discover my perspective to be incorrect, I modify it accordingly.	1	2	3	4	5
51. I can balance my focus on academic disciplinary matters as well as professional/practice-based matters which may invoke different disciplines.	1	2	3	4	5
52. I can tailor my use of jargon to best meet the needs of my audience.	1	2	3	4	5
53. I am able to think systemically, i.e., I can see the “forest and the trees” in my professional workspace.	1	2	3	4	5
54. I am comfortable questioning the boundaries of my own discipline.	1	2	3	4	5
55. I respect the value of non-academic input into research.	1	2	3	4	5

Step 2: :

In each skills table, record your score for each of the identified item numbers, then add up the scores in each table in order to identify your areas of strength and weakness.

Intellectual curiosity		Critical thinking		Flexibility		Project management
Item	Score	Item	Score	Item	Score	Item	Score
1		2		3		4
9		10		11		12
17		18		19		20
25		26		27		28
33		34		35		36
Total		Total		Total		Total

Self-management		Communication		Academic skills		Belief in yourself
Item	Score	Item	Score	Item	Score	Item	Score
5		6		7		8
13		14		15		16
21		22		23		24
29		30		31		32
37		38		39		40
Total		Total		Total		Total

Critical reflexivity		Trans/multi-disciplinarity		Complex communication
41		42		43
44		45		46
47		48		49
50		51		52
53		54		55
Total		Total		Total

Step 3: :

Rank your skills scores:

What were your three highest scoring skill(s): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What were your three lowest scoring skill(s): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 4: :

Consider what actions you can take to improve your lowest scoring skill areas. [If you are undertaking a professional doctorate or are undertaking a practice-based PhD research project, consider how you might improve your skill set if the Critical Reflexivity, Trans/Multidisciplinarity or Complex Communication dimensions were amongst your lowest skill scores and/or were absent from your highest skill scores.]