Mapping your Analytical Skills

The chart below lists some of the key analytical skills that we will be working on in the Analytical Skills stream. This chart is designed to help you evaluate
your current skill level and make notes on the areas that you would like to improve on. Please note that the relevant terms for each skill are provided as a
guideline. Once you have completed your chart, please upload it on to the SPA Moodle to unlock further analytical skills material.
P.S. The first skill has been filled in as a sample for your guidance.
How to assess your current level:

: I am not confident in my ability to demonstrate this skill. This skill requires a lot of action for improvement.

: I am slightly confident in my ability to demonstrate this skill. This skill requires action for improvement.

: I am somewhat confident in my ability to demonstrate this skill. This skill requires some action for improvement.

: I am confident in my ability to demonstrate this skill. This skill requires minor action for improvement.

: I am very confident in my ability to demonstrate this skill. This skill requires no action for improvement.
Action plan:
After you identify your strengths for the skill as well as areas for improvement, consider how you can take real action for improving on this skill.

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 Skill – Definition Current Level Strengths Areas for Improvement Action Plan
Research  Attention to detail  To assess credibility of  Attend future
“a detailed study of a subject,  Data collection sources sessions of SPA on
especially, in order to discover techniques  To figure out the research skills
(new) information or reach a (new)  Accessing the process of research
understanding” literature  Critiquing existing  Complete the
 Inquisitive research “Introduction to
Relevant Terms referencing library
Investigation, Data Collection, course.
Interpretation of data, Evaluation
of sources, Accuracy.  Complete
“Researching for
assignments”
course offered by
central library
Research  Attention to detail  Data collection  Attend future
“a detailed study of a subject,  Using different tools  To assess credibility of sessions of SPA on
especially, in order to discover to collect data sources research skills
(new) information or reach a (new)  Accessing the  To figure out the  Attend
understanding” literature process of research “Researching for
assignments”
Relevant Terms course offered by
Investigation, Data Collection, central library
Interpretation of data, Evaluation
of sources, Accuracy.

Critical Thinking  Ability to analyse and  Develop justify skill and  Attend sessions of
“the process of thinking carefully compare different inferring SPA on critical

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about a subject or idea, without approaches and  Using advanced thinking
allowing feelings or opinion to opinions language to evaluate or  Read more
affect you.”  Be objective and make explain different information about
decisions based on my authors idea as well as Bloom Taxonomy
Relevant Terms own experience or my conclusions  Do more practise
feelings even in daily life
Reasoning, judgement, decision
making, brainstorming,
explanation, inferring,
interpretation, evaluation,
reflection.
Problem Solving  Ability to identify  Develop evaluation and  Find book about
“the process of finding logical problem making decision skills how make decision
solutions to problems”  Analysis problematic  To identify
area techniques for
 Keeping focus on key making decisions
Relevant Terms area effectively
Problem identification, definition,
analysis, exploration, decision
making, evaluation, reflection.

Communication  can communicate  make a presentation  practising more how

“the imparting or exchanging of effectively orally or in to present
information by speaking, writing, writing information
 explain idea
or using some other medium.”
 can listen other
people opinion
Relevant Terms
Active listening, reporting, critical
writing, presentation, oral
communication, non verbal
communication, interaction.

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 Data Analysis  Critical analysis
“the process of examining
information, in order to find

something out, or to help with
making decision.”

Relevant Terms
Critical analysis, quantitative data
analysis, qualitative analysis,
predictive analysis, cost analysis,
decision making, objectivity.

**All definitions are taken from Cambridge English Dictionary available at : https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

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