Research Skills
Assess your research skills
Core research skills
This activity is aimed at helping you to reflect on your competency levels regarding the six core research
skills below.

Area / subject expertise

Data collection and analysis

Generating research output

Managing a research project

Understanding and influencing the research environment

Reputation and external esteem
Each skill will be presented with four possible levels of competency:

Foundation

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert
Choose your own level of competency for each core skill, copy the text that corresponds to that level and
paste it into the table at the end of this document.
NB. If you do not see the save or print buttons on the toolbar in this window, right click on the empty part of the toolbar and choose the
“standard” toolbar. You will then be able to save or print the document.
From The Research Observatory. Last edited 27/01/2008 © University of the West of England, Bristol
Core research skill 1: area / subject expertise
How well do you know your area of expertise? Have you already been working in this field for several years
or are you completely new to it? Do you have some knowledge of the area from your reading or
undergraduate studies?
What level of skill do you possess in relation to your knowledge of your subject area?
Foundation
You are able to show broad-based awareness of the subject domain and can
demonstrate knowledge about key themes, topics and major research questions in the
domain.
Intermediate
You show growing expertise in a specialist domain.
You maintain a broad-based knowledge of the field.
You are cognizant of national and international research activities and you keep
abreast of relevant publications.
Advanced
You have an established track record of academic achievement in a clearly defined
specialist area.
You think creatively and contribute to development of theory and the generation of new
research ideas.
Expert
You demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the domain and show significant contributions
to theory and practice.
You demonstrate innovation in research methods, approaches and theories and are
able to create and direct research strategy at a corporate or national level.
Core research skill 2: data collection and analysis
Are you competent at collecting data? Do you fully understand how you will analyse that data? Have you
been able to determine the best method to use for your particular research having regard to the advantages
and disadvantages of each of the possible methods?
What level of skill do you possess in relation to data collection and analysis?
Foundation
You must have the ability to:
Use a set of key data collection and analysis techniques or methods relevant to the
domain of research.
Use the methods or techniques to generate valid data and results with guidance.
Recognise the strengths and limitations of each key method or technique.
Intermediate
You must have the ability to:
Assess the advantages or disadvantages of an array of methods or techniques for data
collection and analysis.
Select appropriate methods for application to a given research issue. Design
experiments, trials, surveys or longitudinal studies.
Specify valid sample characteristics for selected statistical techniques.
Advanced
You must have:
A comprehensive knowledge of domain-relevant methods and techniques, their
applicability and validity in varied contexts, and have the ability to:
Combine methods or techniques to provide an effective battery of tools for a given
investigation.
Use the methods flexibly and tailor them to specific research investigations.
Expert
You must have the ability to:
Maintain a thorough grasp of data collection and analysis methods or techniques within
a domain.
Evaluate methods or techniques used and to guide others in selection and use of data
collection and analysis methods and techniques.
Develop new and innovative data collection and analysis techniques.
From The Research Observatory. Last edited 27/01/2008 © University of the West of England, Bristol
Core research skill 3: generating research output
Are you cognizant of the importance of generating research output in an academic research environment?
Have you presented papers at academic conferences or produced a poster of your research to present at a
conference? Have you ever compiled a publication strategy?
Foundation
You contribute competently to deliverables of high quality, for example: professional
articles, final reports, presentations, poster sessions or conferences.
Intermediate
You publish at an acceptable rate for your discipline, typically two papers per year in
peer-reviewed academic journals.
You present papers at academic conferences.
You are responsible for significant project deliverables (final reports etc) and have
compiled a planned publication strategy.
Advanced
You publish at a competitive rate for your discipline, typically three papers per year in
high-impact peer-reviewed academic journals, with a high proportion first-authored.
You edit books or book chapters and direct and guide research output of others.
Expert
You publish review articles or critique of significant texts in the relevant domain.
You develop research publication strategies at institutional level.
Core research skill 4: managing a research project
Can you meet deadlines set by your supervisor or department? Are you capable of setting your own
deadlines for particular aspects of your research? Can you communicate well with your team members or
even assign tasks to them, giving clear instruction as to how the task should be carried out?
Foundation
You manage specified 'work packages' with supervision and meet deadlines set. You
meet required quality standards.
Intermediate
You plan and organise one individual major project (or two or three small projects)
through all stages of the projects life-cycle (from start up to exploitation of findings).
You assign tasks and give clear guidance on carrying them out and can communicate
with team members. You monitor and guide their performance.
Advanced
You set up, direct and manage portfolios of collaborative projects through all stages of
the project life-cycle. You can develop effective communication and learning systems
on projects.
Expert
You can establish corporate project management skills and guidelines. You guide and
support others in project management.
You enhance project management methods and establish and promote best practice in
project management. You promote cross-project learning.
From The Research Observatory. Last edited 27/01/2008 © University of the West of England, Bristol
Core research skill 5: understanding and influencing the research
environment
Do you have an awareness of your research domain? Can you identify the leading authorities in your field?
Do you participate actively in peer review processes?
Foundation
You show a broad-based awareness of the research domain.
Intermediate
You can identify national or international centres of research excellence in your domain
and can list the relevant leading academic journals and their requirements.
You can identify leading world experts or authorities in the domain and can name the
key current research issues and questions.
Advanced
You participate actively in peer review processes and review scientific proposals and
publications.
You supervise and assess postgraduate students, projects or programmes and
contribute to research strategy formulation.
You scope and direct significant corporate research programmes.
Expert
You formulate research and scientific strategy and scope, direct and lead major
research programmes on a national and international level.
You lead national or international debate on research policy and planning.
Core research skill 6: reputation and external esteem
Are you aware of the importance of building a research reputation? Have you already started to build a
research reputation through conference presentations or publishing research in well revered journals?
Foundation
You have an awareness of the importance of research reputation and external esteem.
Intermediate
You have an emerging national impact or reputation through conference presentations,
invitations to collaborate in joint research, published output in refereed journals.
Advanced
You have engaged in national or international research activity, e.g. as reviewer in
peer review processes, appointment as European Union expert evaluator, or
participant in committee activity for professional bodies.
Expert
You have a national or international reputation; too many invitations to accept! You
have authored landmark publications.
You have membership of international advisory groups to public and private sectors
and engagement in strategic planning groups at national or international level.
From The Research Observatory. Last edited 27/01/2008 © University of the West of England, Bristol
Your core skills results
Fill in this table with your levels for each core skill.
CORE SKILL
LEVEL OF SKILL
1. Area / subject
expertise
2. Data collection
and analysis
3. Generating
research output
4. Managing a
research project
5. Understanding
and influencing the
research
environment
6. Reputation and
external esteem
From The Research Observatory. Last edited 27/01/2008 © University of the West of England, Bristol