Research Skills and the Workplace
When we look at College and Career Readiness, research skills are a necessary component. The Nevada Academic Content Standards for ELA and Social Studies have research skills weaved throughout them. The Disciplinary Skills for grades K - 12 social studies include the same set of skills: Constructing compelling questions, creating supporting questions, gathering and evaluating sources, developing claims and using evidence, communicating and critiquing conclusions, and taking informed action. All of the above skills listed include a research component. An example in Kindergarten is standard SS.K.9, Compare life in the past to life today within the community. This is also evident in the 9-12 standard SS.9-12.CE.14, Evaluate the impact of individuals and reform movements on legislation and court decisions in the struggle for greater civil rights and liberties.
Research skills encompass several different skill sets that work together to allow individuals to identify and interpret information and come to viable solutions. These skills transfer to the workplace in a variety of ways. According to the Glassdoor Team, in their article “Career Development Tips Research Skills: What They Are and Why They’re Important,” identify the following research skills that are necessary for the workplace that allow individuals and companies to:
Identify problems that are hindering performance or the ability to complete tasks
Come up with viable solutions to those problems
Evaluate resources and the best way to utilize those resources to promote increased efficiency
Come up with new services or products
Identify the needs of a company’s target customer to better meet those needs through products and services
Stay up-to-date with industry trends and market demands
Learn new ways of doing things to adapt and evolve to meet workplace demands
Research skills encompass several different skill sets that work together to allow individuals to identify and interpret information and come to viable solutions. The most in-demand research skills in the workplace include: Time management, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and detail orientation (Glassdoor). These skill sets are also included in the 21st Century Competencies for K-12 students.
The three programs supported by the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement (We The People, National History Day, and Project Citizen) are all based on research skills and involve the above skills sets identified by Glassdoor. Follow the links to explore more for each program: We The People, Project Citizen, and National History Day.
The Nevada Center for Civic Engagement promotes College and Career Readiness Skills through our programs based on the Nevada Academic Core Standards, Nevada Content Standards and the 21st Century Competencies. Together we can create an informed and engaged citizenry across the state of Nevada.