DREAM BIGGER: ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI 

Posted on July 19, 2016     3 Comments

Hello beautiful, I hope you all are basking in the blessings of this season, a big congratulations to all those graduating this season; I felicitate with you on this great milestone and achievement (whether its SSCE…lol, Bsc, Msc, MBA or professional qualification…it is an achievement!), my prayer is that the next phase of your life’s […]

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ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI: THE GOD FACTOR

Posted on March 4, 2016     Leave a Comment

Hello there! Trust we are all basking in newness of 2016. I thank God for you all, may God crown our efforts with good success. Seeking God in all endeavour is the most important thing. Malachi 3:18 says “and you will see the difference between those who serve me and those who do not”. Its’s […]

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ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI: SMART WORK

Posted on January 8, 2016     Leave a Comment

Hello there! Happy new year to all the readers of this segment. I salute you all, may this year bring us the best of the bests of God’s blessings, may our lives express the beauty of God every day and may the works of our hands propser. A wise man said you never recover from […]

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ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI: PRINCIPLE OF ASSOCIATION 

Posted on November 4, 2015     3 Comments

IRON SHARPENETH IRON-“I.S.I” Hello Beautiful People! “You are the salt of the earth. But remember that salt is useful in association, but useless in isolation.”- Israelmore Ayivor Been a minute on here! How are y’all doing? The last 3 months was all shades of beautiful against all odds and I am grateful. I don’t know […]

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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH WUNMI: P-L-A-N-N-I-N-G!!!

Posted on July 22, 2015     2 Comments

Hello Fam! Yay! It’s mid-year and this is my first post for the half year. So much to be thankful for, amongst which are: the Editor (TOSIN) and the phenomenon audience of Africanism Cosmopolitan. You guys are simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Started this in January, and look where we are now. Initially, the idea seemed senseless, thought […]

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ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI: ASSESSMENT: KEY AREAS OF FOCUS

Posted on June 16, 2015     2 Comments

Hello there! Hope you all are doing fine and winning in all life’s pursuit? Let me start by expressing my immense gratitude to God and the ardent readers of this blog. I acknowledge your comments and contributions so far, they have been helpful. However, I would like to know areas you would like me to […]

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ACADEMICS WITH WUNMI: RESEARCH MYTHS

Posted on May 5, 2015     3 Comments

Hello Fam!

A word of encouragement before I get to discuss today’s post. A unit is made of several small components that’s put together to achieve one goal. This is the illustration of all believers in the body of Christ. We are part of God’s unit with different functional areas. Let’s play out our functions as divinely given by God. More often we channel our energy towards envying (comparison) other people’s functions. Let’s stay content with our portion and run with it.

While we considered the common mistakes made in research in the last post, it is expedient we also consider those things are not mistakes but believed to be true which in the long run impair the quality and excellence of our work.

Different people have different meaning to ‘myth’ but for the purpose of this post, we hold that a myth is ‘ a widely held but false belief or idea’.

I have heard and believed some myths in the past but over time I have seen the light (truth). These truths are what I aim to share with you today. However, Research myths are not limited to these myths shared below.

MYTH 1: It’s easier to use questionnaire rather than secondary data, vice-versa.

TRUTH: the truth is, the easiest method of data gathering (analysis) is the most appropriate method that soothes your topic. ‘The grass is only green where you water it’. When you use a method because you think it’s easier, you get easily frustrated when it doesn’t go as easy as envisaged. On the other hand, using the appropriate method keeps you going when it seems rough because you’re convinced you’re doing it right.

MYTH 2: Nothing new can be done, thus one has to ‘stylishly’ repeat past research works.

TRUTH: Problems evolve on a daily basis thus makes room for new research ideas to be developed to provide solutions. This could further contradict findings of past researchers which in the long run opens path for new findings thus doing something NEW. All you need to be is be critically and analytically alert in your mind.

MYTH 3: Research is only for those who want to be lecturers

TRUTH: This is quite common but the truth is, research is a platform used to solve problems, answer questions, and identify unknown causative agents amongst others. You would agree with me that not only lecturers (academicians) need solutions. Quick illustration, a friend of mine is considering starting up a business but first wants to carry out a research on the finance avenues available to such business as well as the sustainability. A Successful entrepreneur must engage in research to develop a business proposal that’s irresistible and sustainable. Therefore, research isn’t limited to Academicians only.

MYTH 4: Research is difficult, hence you can’t write an excellent research work

TRUTH: Great writers can be born but great writing skills can also be developed. Anyone born with a talent without development loses the talent without knowing. In the same vein, anyone who consciously develops a skill becomes better over time. Development is what makes the difference. A major way for continuous development is continuous learning.

MYTH 5: It takes forever to complete a good research

TRUTH: This is not totally true. Sometimes ample time is required to complete a research work but that doesn’t imply the work would be excellent. A lot of articles contend to be published in a good journal however not all gets published, the best of the bests are selected, and this is to mean there’s more that makes an excellent research than just length of time. For instance, knowing the appropriate variables and data to use, save times and this directly enhance the quality of work.

MYTH 6: Result must favour your topic

TRUTH: This is one myth that misleads a lot of students today (been a victim before). The plain truth is, research is not research when your answer is predetermined. You research because you don’t know. Let your data be fairly represented without bias. It’s not out of place to have expectation on what the result could possibly be, however, where actual result differs from expectation does not imply poor work done. Though it could imply poor work done where data used is inappropriate but where data used is appropriate, then it is what it is! Having actual result differ from expectations could open avenue for further study using different set of variables- which is doing something ‘new’.

“then you shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free” John 8:32

Please share your myths about research with me in the comment box below.

Till I come your way again,

Stay Wining,

Wunmi

The Education segment of the blog is one where you can find resources as a student/prospective one to help you succeed academically. Periodic posts would be published ranging from advice to questions and resources, all of which readily available to help you. I wish you all the best in your academic endeavours- Tosin Alabi( editor)

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RESEARCH WITH WUNMI: THE SOLUTION PILL

Posted on January 29, 2015     Leave a Comment

Hello A.C Fam!

Good to be on this platform again to discuss one of the things I’m very passionate about, am I an education/research enthusiast (you ask)? I think I am.

The aim of this post is to highlight one out of the many advantages that research has thus emphasizing the need for better quality research work as students that would hopefully be of great relevance to the government amongst other sectors. Before laying emphasis on research as a solution pill, let’s talk briefly on the utilization of research in past years.

A quick comparism, World Bank data for year 2010-2014 shows that United Kingdom has 4,024 researchers in R&D (per million people) in contrast to 95 researchers Zimbabwe has in R&D. This shows that developed nation maximize research maybe not optimally but at least it’s not under-utilized in contrast to most developing countries which Nigeria is not an exception

Note: population is a great influencing factor of the figure above however the margin between these two countries is very wide nonetheless the industrial growth of each country drives the point home better. Some developing countries like Nigeria has no data on the table (link here: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6/countries)

Also, UNESCO recognise that high level research and development within a government fuels industrial growth. The figure above include PHD researchers, this highlights importance of research with better quality from student platform.

Not all student got it right the first time, Its ok to have made some mistakes in the past as a student researcher one of the reasons this platform exist is to reduce the occurrence of these mistakes in future. (Expect a post on common mistakes students make in research and how they can be minimised).

‘Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. Do not repeat them in the future’ – Swami Sivananda

Looking into the future, I see research birthing solutions to national problems, although not currently maximized. Research as a ‘solution-pill’ is currently not maximized for (I believe) the following reasons;

• Most research works carried out by students in Nigeria Universities (especially undergraduates) are ‘dumped’ on the shelf with no further action. Thus affecting the perception and enthusiasm students have towards research. I believe the grass-root of research is at undergraduate level.

P.S I’m more familiar with the Nigerian education system thus indulge me, however, I would like to know whether readers from other countries share same observations.

• Ignorance to the solution power research carries. I remember one of my Lecturers during my postgraduate (missed my intro post? Read here) cited an example of the research he conducted to help give advice to top government officials to make relevant decision as it relates to the economy. Is research that essential? OH YES! Most developed nations thrive on the wings of research.

Just recently, I was watching TV and I saw an advert asking viewers to donate to ‘cancer research’ in the UK. Now, can you beat that?! I honestly think we need awareness of research potential. Australia for instance has a Financial Integrity Research Network (FIRN)-a platform for identifying and solving financial problems such as Hedge Funds, Asset Pricing and so on.

Research might not give a precise solution as it were but at least it puts you on the solution path. Take for instance the Ebola outbreak, various research was carried out in the US to identify the cause and the cure (solution-pill). Yes the result of the various research wasn’t a precise solution however it gave a solution path which with further developments can be precise.

I see research solving private/public financial challenges across the globe not just medical (clinical) issues. Do you?

What problem has research solved you ask?

1. Financial Management Problems: According to Financial Engineering Research at McCormick http://www.fe.mccormick.northwestern.edu/research.html in this link are lists of financial engineering problems solved by renowned researchers. For instance, ‘Prof Mehrotra developed stochastic nonlinear models and algorithms for asset-liability management problems’.
2. Algebra Learning Problem: According to Press Trust of India (05/05/2014), researchers establish that there is a computer system that provides automatic solutions to ‘beginners’ problems encountered at algebra classes. This for instance is so cool! Growing up an area of struggle in mathematics was algebra.
3. Social Media Insecurity: Did you know that some researchers in June 2014 solved ‘a big security problem with android apps on google play’? Here’s the link for further read http://www.businessinsider.com/android-apps-give-away-secret-keys-2014-6

I encourage students out there to engage in research when opportune to, it’s an amazing platform that has solution potentials asides knowledge potentials.

Let’s all put our thinking, critical and analytical caps as I stimulate you on this research journey as we enhance academic excellence.

Till I come your way again,

Stay Winning,

-Wunmi Kayode.

Please leave your comments, suggestions, or questions in the comment box below or mail me at wunmi.kayode@gmail.com

The Education segment of the blog is one where you can find resources as a student/prospective one to help you succeed academically. Periodic posts would be published ranging from advice to questions and resources, all of which readily available to help you. I wish you all the best in your academic endeavours- Tosin Alabi( editor)

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