THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EFFECTIVE TIME

MANAGEMENT AND EXTRAMURAL

RESEARCH LEARNING AND PRACTISE: A

CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

ABSTRACT

As an action towards raising the standards of research practice in Nigeria,

this research explores how extramural learning through effective time

management can help Nigerian students learn research better than what is

offered in Nigerian universities. The paper explores two hypothetical view-

points: one saying that there is no correlation between effective time

management and extramural research learning/practice and the other

saying that there is a relationship between effective time management and

extramural research learning/practice. The research compares and contrasts

relevant related literature in order to draw findings and conclusion mainly

about the concept of time management. To link the two variables together,

a straightforward albeit weak analysis is made by using two (2) short time

management theories asserted by world famous personalities Leonardo Da

Vinci and Michael Altshuler. Ultimately the research concludes that there is a

relationship between the effectiveness of time management and extramural

research learning/practice. This conclusion means one thing. If Nigerian

students can effectively manage their time and commit time and efforts to

extramural and in-depth learning of research, the level of research quality in

Nigerian universities would greatly skyrocket.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Time management is the act or process of planning and exercising conscious

control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to

increase productivity and efficiency. (Project Management Institute, 2004). It

is usually identified with themes such as

setting of priorities,

creating environments conducive to effectiveness,

carrying out activities around priorities, and

the process of reduction of time spent on non-priorities. (Project

Management Institute, 2004).

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Although research is a very important aspect of academia, students do not

seem to be taught sufficiently enough in Nigerian universities. This is

responsible for low research quality obtainable. (Nigerian Universities

Commission, 2011). A good way of eliminating this problem will be for

students to conduct personal efforts to reach out for academic material and

seek extramural learning of research. (Olagbenro, 2010).

However, students often complain of insufficient time to combine their

academic work with such “extra-curricular” efforts. This ensures that little or

no effort is made towards eradication of the problem of low research quality in

Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

There is a low level of research quality in Nigeria as cited above, and students

are not carrying out any significant efforts toward attaining higher research

quality in Nigerian universities.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study tries to figure out how Nigerian students can help raise the

standards of educational research in Nigeria through effective time

management.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

Can extramural learning and practice of research through effective time

management help Nigerian students increase the quality of educational

research in Nigeria?

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

(a) Null Hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between effective time

management and extramural research learning and practice.

(b) Alternative Hypothesis: There is a correlation between effective time

management and extramural research learning and practice.

1.6 LIMITATIONS

Due to lack of quantitative data in a practical case like this; and over-reliance

on literature, the results may be easily unproven or debunked.

1.7 DELIMITATIONS

The research deliberately focuses on only extramural learning (and practice)

because there is a greater possibility of accessing the level of correlation

between extramural learning and effective time management.

1.8 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The ideas in this research are based upon the assertion of late world-renown

Italian sculptor Leonardo Da Vinci that:

“Time always stays long enough for those who know how to use

it”. (Time Management Qoutes and Sayings).

Also, according to famous inspirational speaker Michael Altshuler,

“The bad news is that time flies; the good news is that you

are the pilot”. (Time Management Qoutes and Sayings).

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 The Nature and benefits of Time Management

Most literatures analysed agree on the nature of the concept of time

management. Kayode (2007) and Bello (2008) both agree that the term “time

management” is a misnomer. According to them, you cannot manage time.

You can only manage the events in your life in relation to the time available.

How you use time depends on the skills learned through self analysis,

planning, evaluation, and self-control.

People who practise time management

- are more productive,

- have more energy for things they need to accomplish,

- are able to do the things they want , and

- get more things done. (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005).

2.2 Setting Priorities in Time Management

Managing your time effectively requires a distinction between what is urgent

and what is important. Kayode (2007) and Chibuozor (2004) agree that the

most important tasks usually are not the most urgent. However, we tend to let

the urgent dominate our lives.

Covey, Merrill, & Merrill, (1994) categorize our activities into four quadrants

namely urgent, not urgent, important, and not important. Focusing on

important activities allows you to gain greater control over limited time.

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

For the purpose of this research, the researcher relies largely on literature

collected from the Internet. This implies that because of the short time frame

available, the data collected and involved in the research are strictly limited to

academic materials like journals, books, reports etc.

After collecting these literature, analysis was made to discover any where the

materials corroborate each other and where the disagreed.

This analysis was then used to draw findings and conclusions about the

research question.

3.2 Sources of Data

The sole source of the materials used in this research is the Internet. E-books

used in the analysis were solely obtained through downloading form the

Internet.

3.3 Method of Data Analysis

Due to the qualitative nature of data used in the research, the methods used

in analysing data are also strictly qualitative.

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 ANALYSIS

The literatures used in this research work are mainly academic literature on

the topic of time management. The method of analysing them is to take an in-

depth consideration of where authors agree and where they disagree, in order

to draw findings with reasonable weight. The ideas and opinions are analysed

with the theories in section 1.8 in a bid to answer the research question.

4.2 FINDINGS

This section presents mostly areas where the authors corroborate each other.

Areas where they disagree are overlooked because they do not possess

enough weight to be given good consideration.

In a nutshell, ten (10) simple guidelines can be drawn out from the literatures

studied.

- Setting priorities. (Chibouozor, 2004) & (Bello, 2008).

- Use a planning tool e.g. a check book, or diary.

- Know how to spend your time. (Dodd & Sundheim, 2005)

- Get organised (keep, give away, and discard the right things).

- Schedule your time appropriately

- Delegate: get help from others (MacKenzie, 1990) & (Covey, Merrill, &

Merrill, 1994)

- Stop procrastinating.

- Manage external time wasters e.g. unexpected visitors.

- Avoid Multi-tasking.

- Stay healthy. (Time Management Qoutes and Sayings)

However, the problem in this research does not lie in the discovery of these

principles but in their applicability to extramural research learning and

practice. This will be explored in the next section.

4.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

Can extramural learning and practice of research through effective time

management help Nigerian students increase the quality of educational

research in Nigeria?

As stated in chapter 1 the ideas in this research are based upon the assertion

of late world-renown Italian sculptor Leonardo Da Vinci that:

“Time always stays long enough for those who know how to use

it”. (Time Management Qoutes and Sayings).

Also, according to famous inspirational speaker Michael Altshuler,

“The bad news is that time flies; the good news is that you

are the pilot”. (Time Management Qoutes and Sayings).

In line with these assertions, it is clear that the only missing part of the puzzle

is for Nigerian students to employ the principles of time management bearing

in mind that time is sufficient for those who know how to use it.

Based on this discussion, extramural learning and practice of research through

effective time management can help Nigerian students increase the quality of

educational research in Nigeria.

4.4 HYPOTHESIS

(a) Null Hypothesis: There is no significant relationship between effective time

management and extramural research learning and practice.

(b) Alternative Hypothesis: There is a correlation between effective time

management and extramural research learning and practice.

The answer to the research question above rejects the null hypothesis and

upholds the alternative hypothesis that there is a correlation between

effective time management and extramural research learning and practice.

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 SUMMARY

This research was conducted to ascertain if effective time management can

help Nigerian students conduct personal efforts to study & learn research

through extramural efforts.

In chapter 4, various literature on time management were analysed and

findings presented. Ten principles were presented on how to achieve effective

time management. Further conclusions were made in Chapter four that

debunked the null hypothesis and upheld the alternative hypothesis. The

research question was answered with the result that effective time

management can help Nigerian students in extramural learning/practice of

research.

5.2 CONCLUSION

This research concludes as follows:

1. There is a strong correlation between the way you manage time and your

ability to do things which go beyond even the standards people expect.

2. Effective time management can help you succeed against great odds in any

endeavours in life.

3. Through effective time management, Nigerian students can conduct

personal efforts to raise the quality of research in Nigeria through extramural

efforts.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

1. People should learn time management in order to help them achieve all

their short-term and long term-goals in life.

2. Nigerian students should try to embark on extramural research learning

and practice to help raise the quality of research in Nigerian universities.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bello, A. (2008). How To Control Time. Kano: Saitama Press.

Chibouozor, D. (2004). The Time: How to Manage. Enugu: Daylight Press.

Covey, S. R., Merrill, A. R., & Merrill, R. R. (1994). First Things First: to live, to love,

to learn, and to leave a legacy. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Dodd, P., & Sundheim, D. (2005). The 25 Best Time Management Tools and

Techniques. Ann Arbor, MI: Peak Press.

Kayode, A. (2007). The Time Pilots. Lagos: Adventure Press.

MacKenzie, A. (1990). The Time Trap. New York: American Management

Association.

Nigerian Universities Commission. (2011). Annual Report on Nigerian Universities.

Abuja.

Olagbenro, B. (2010). How to Plan with Time. Lagos: People's Press.

Project Management Institute. (2004). A Guide to the Project Management Body

of Knowledge. PMBOK Guide.

Time Management Qoutes and Sayings. (n.d.). Retrieved from timeman.com:

timeman.com/time-management-quotes-and-sayings