1.1 Give examples of types of study skills that may be utilised when undertaking an extended piece of work

This guide will help you answer 1.1 Give examples of types of study skills that may be utilised when undertaking an extended piece of work.

Completing an extended piece of work for a qualification in health and social care requires focus, organisation, and strong study skills. In practical terms, study skills are the methods and strategies you use to plan, research, write and present your work to a high standard. They help manage time, collect information effectively, and keep work relevant to the brief. Using the right study skills can make a big difference to both the process and your final result.

Extended work in health and social care often means combining written research with practical understanding. It may involve evidence gathering, case studies, legislation review, and reflection on practice. This makes it important to know which study skills will support your task from start to finish.

Time Management Skills

Time management is the ability to organise your schedule so all stages of the work are completed on time. Extended projects may run across several weeks or months, so keeping track of deadlines is important.

Good time management involves:

• Creating a timeline for tasks
• Breaking large tasks into smaller parts
• Setting daily or weekly goals
• Avoiding last-minute rushing

For example, if your extended piece requires both research and analysis, you might set aside the first two weeks for information gathering. The following weeks could then focus on drafting and reviewing your work. Using tools such as calendars, wall planners, or simple to-do lists can help you stay on track.

Note-Taking Skills

Note-taking is a way of recording key points from reading, lectures, or conversations. Good notes help you keep important information available without having to reread everything from the beginning.

Strong note-taking habits include:

• Writing in your own words
• Highlighting only the most relevant facts
• Using headings and bullet points for organisation
• Keeping notes clear and easy to scan

Mind maps can also work well for visual learners as they show connections between facts or ideas. In health and social care, this might mean mapping out how different pieces of legislation link to safeguarding practices.

Research Skills

Research skills involve finding, understanding, and using information that supports your work. Extended projects often need evidence from reliable sources, such as academic books, peer-reviewed journals, or official reports.

Steps for effective research include:

• Identifying what information is needed before starting
• Using trusted databases and organisations
• Checking publication dates and author backgrounds
• Comparing different sources to get a balanced view

In health and social care, research should include up-to-date policies and statistics. For example, looking at NHS data can help back up a point about service provision.

Reading Strategies

Reading strategies are methods used to get the most out of written material in a limited amount of time. Extended work often requires engaging with large amounts of information quickly.

Useful approaches include:

• Skimming for general ideas
• Scanning for specific facts
• Reading in detail for key sections
• Annotating texts to highlight important points

This means you can draw useful information without spending too long on material that is not directly relevant.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves questioning and evaluating information rather than just accepting it as true. It means assessing sources for bias and relevance, and considering other perspectives.

To apply critical thinking:

• Ask who wrote the material and why
• Check how reliable and proven the information is
• Compare ideas from different sources
• Reflect on how evidence relates to your own findings

This skill is important when writing extended work because it shows an ability to think independently and make reasoned conclusions.

Organisation of Materials

Organising materials keeps all your resources, notes, and drafts in order. This prevents wasted time looking for misplaced items and helps keep work professional.

Methods to organise include:

• Labelling folders clearly
• Keeping physical papers in binders
• Organising digital files in named folders
• Using consistent version names for drafts

For health and social care students, an organised set of case study notes or legislation references means you can easily find what you need when working on your final draft.

Planning and Outlining

Planning is deciding in advance what will go into your work and how it will fit together. Creating an outline is a written plan that shows the structure of your work before writing begins.

An outline might include:

• Title of the piece
• Main headings for each section
• Key points under each heading
• Possible sources for evidence

This approach saves time and improves flow because you know exactly what points to cover and in what sequence.

Referencing and Citation Skills

Referencing means crediting the sources you have used. This is required in academic work to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is using someone else’s work without proper acknowledgement.

Good referencing practice includes:

• Using the citation style requested by your course
• Recording full details of sources while researching
• Being consistent in format
• Including a reference list at the end

In health and social care, correct referencing maintains credibility and honesty in your work.

IT Skills

Maintaining basic IT skills is important for presenting extended work professionally. This can include typing, formatting, using spreadsheets, and searching online.

IT skills in use may involve:

• Formatting documents for readability
• Using presentation tools for visual aids
• Managing word processing features like headings and tables
• Protecting documents with backups

Modern health and social care work often uses digital submission platforms, so being confident with IT helps avoid technical issues.

Self-Editing

Self-editing means reading through your own work to spot and correct mistakes. This can include spelling, grammar, sentence clarity, and factual accuracy.

An effective self-editing process involves:

• Reading work aloud to hear any awkward phrasing
• Checking for repeated points
• Making sure each section links well to the next
• Reviewing all references for accuracy

Many students find it useful to leave their work for a short time before editing so they can look at it fresh.

Reflection Skills

Reflection is thinking about your own learning and performance. It involves identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

In extended work, reflection might include:

• Considering how well research was carried out
• Looking at how time was used
• Thinking about what could be done differently next time

Reflection supports professional growth in health and social care by encouraging readiness to improve practice.

Collaboration Skills

Some extended projects include teamwork. Collaboration skills help in sharing workload, discussing ideas, and building final work that benefits from multiple perspectives.

These skills involve:

• Clear communication between team members
• Respecting different viewpoints
• Using group meetings to track progress
• Keeping records of who is responsible for each part

Good collaboration can lead to stronger, more comprehensive final work.

Stress Management

Large pieces of work can be stressful. Managing stress helps keep you focused and motivated.

Helpful stress management strategies include:

• Taking short breaks during study
• Keeping realistic goals
• Using relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises
• Staying physically active

Reducing stress improves concentration and creativity, leading to better results.

Presentation Skills

Presentation skills cover how your work is displayed to readers or assessors. This includes written presentation and any verbal or visual presentation required.

For written work, presentation means:

• Using clear headings
• Keeping consistent font and layout
• Checking spacing and alignment

If a verbal presentation is part of your project, presentation skills may include speaking clearly, using visual aids, and engaging the audience.

Data Handling Skills

Extended work in health and social care may involve using statistics or other data. Handling data correctly means being able to read, interpret, and display it.

For data handling:

• Understand what the data measures
• Use charts or graphs to present information clearly
• Check data sources for reliability

Using data well can strengthen arguments and add credibility to your work.

Final Thoughts

Undertaking an extended piece of work in health and social care is a large task, but using the right study skills makes it far more achievable. The skills discussed here work best when used together. For example, planning and time management help structure your project, while research and critical thinking ensure the content is strong and relevant. Organisation and referencing maintain accuracy and professionalism from start to finish.

Taking time to develop your own approach to study skills will pay off in both your coursework and future practice. Try to build these skills into your daily study habits so they become part of the way you work naturally. This will make extended tasks feel more manageable and your results more consistent.