Blog Posts

Introduction

Developing a compelling research focus is one of the most important and often overlooked steps in the research process. Too often, researchers begin by diving into the literature without first considering what truly excites them or what's currently happening in the real world. This approach can lead to uninspired work that lacks personal or contemporary relevance. Here’s a more engaging and dynamic method for finding a research topic that truly excites you:

1. Start With the World Around You

Before you open a journal or search a database, take a moment to observe what’s happening in the world today. What trends, issues, innovations, or challenges do you see? Whether it's technology, politics, education, health, environment, or culture—identify something that genuinely grabs your attention.

2. Let Your Curiosity Lead the Way

Explore your own personal interests. What topics or problems do you feel naturally drawn to? These interests are often the most fertile ground for meaningful and passionate research. When you start from what fascinates you, your motivation to explore, analyze, and contribute becomes much stronger.

3. Connect Real-World Excitement With Academic Literature

Once you've found something related to your field that is trending in the world or that you're excited about, only then should you turn to the literature. See what research already exists on the topic or something similar. Find gaps, contradictions, or areas that could benefit from a new perspective. Now you’re not just reading literature for its own sake—you’re using it to build on something the world needs and that you already care about.

4. Marry Insight With Evidence

Blend your personal insights and real-world observations with academic research. This combination gives your study both relevance and depth. Instead of struggling to force literature into real-world problems, you're aligning your work with both personal meaning and scholarly value.

5. Passion Creates Better Research

When you pursue what you love—or what intrigues you—you’re more likely to create vibrant, original, and meaningful work. You’ll find it easier to stay engaged, to dig deeper, and to present your findings in a way that resonates with others.

6. Choose Between Two Powerful Lenses

Exciting research often comes from one of two sources:

• External excitement: What is currently buzzing in your field that others want to understand?

• Internal passion: What do you deeply enjoy exploring, even if it’s not yet widely studied?

Both are valid and valuable starting points.

Conclusion

Exciting research doesn’t begin in a textbook—it begins with curiosity, observation, and passion. Only after identifying what moves you should you seek out the literature to support and expand your vision. By approaching research this way, you’re more likely to produce work that is not only academically valuable but also deeply engaging and personally fulfilling.

Written by Dr. Omodolapo Ojo. Original ideas developed by the author, with writing refinements assisted by ChatGPT. Published on September 1, 2025. 

Introducing Smart Ways to Select Only Relevant Literature from Databases

1. Define Clear Topic 

When you want to search for literature, the very first thing is to be clear about your topic of interest. Define the main topic and identify any add-ons or subtopics. For example, if I want to find literature on how concepts of systems theory and cultural responsiveness have shaped evaluation capacity-building initiatives, my main topic is evaluation capacity building, while the add-ons are systems theory and cultural responsiveness.

2. Clarify Selection Criteria

Once your topic is clear, the next step is to set your inclusion and exclusion criteria. This part is very important and often overlooked. Decide on things like: What time frame you want to cover (for example, the last 10 years versus all publications from inception); the type of publication (peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, book chapters, etc.); and language restrictions, geographic focus, or any other boundaries.

3. Identify Keywords and Variations 

Also, think carefully about your keywords. You want to capture all possible variations of your topic. For instance, “evaluation capacity building” might also appear as “evaluation capacity development” or “evaluation literacy.” If you don’t account for these variations, you may miss important literature.

4. Identify Relevant Sources 

Another smart move is to know where you’re searching. Identify at least three to seven databases or journals that are relevant in your field. You can select these based on what other researchers in your field cite, recommendations from your professor, or simply the popularity of certain databases in your discipline.

5. Organize Selected Literature

Now, once you’ve identified your sources, you need to manage what you find. For this, I strongly recommend using accessible literature or citation managers like Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, and so on. These applications helps researchers collect, organize, and access literature easily. When saving literature, you have two options:

• Download everything you find from your searches directly into your manager. Or, 

• Skim through the title and abstract first, then decide whether it’s worth saving.

I usually prefer the second option because it helps me avoid cluttering my library with irrelevant papers.

6. Ensure Timely Documentation 

One more critical thing: document your process. Write down the keywords you used, how you combined them, which databases you searched, and what criteria you applied. This saves you from repeating unnecessary work and ensures your search is transparent and reproducible.

7. Consult Experts

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of consulting with experts. Reach out to people in your field—your advisor, colleagues, or even librarians—so they can help confirm that you’re not missing any key resources.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you’ll be able to search smarter, stay organized, and select only the most relevant literature for your work.

Written by Dr. Omodolapo Ojo. Original ideas developed by the author, with writing refinements assisted by ChatGPT. Published on September 10, 2025. 

Introduction

Most advice about planning a dissertation or graduate research timeline is either too vague (“start early!”) or unrealistically optimistic (“write a chapter every month”). Neither reflects how graduate research actually unfolds. A workable timeline is not built around generic writing goals—it is built around fixed institutional deadlines, real supervisor and committee response times, and the genuine dependencies between research tasks.

Data collection, analysis, writing, and revision draw on different types of cognitive effort. Attempting to do several of these simultaneously is one of the most common reasons graduate students fall behind, despite working long hours.

The purpose of this guide is to provide a practical, step-by-step method for constructing a realistic dissertation or graduate research timeline—one that reflects institutional realities rather than idealized assumptions. The framework presented here is based on recurring patterns observed across graduate cohorts: where timelines typically break down, where workload is consistently underestimated, and what actually leads to steady, sustainable progress. When applied consistently and updated monthly, this approach produces a timeline that is not only realistic but resilient to the inevitable delays of graduate research.

What follows is a non-generic, structured guideline for developing a realistic dissertation timeline. Each step focuses on factors that materially affect progress, rather than abstract productivity advice.

1. Start by Mapping Institutional and Administrative Requirements. 

Before estimating the duration of any research or writing task, identify all institutional and administrative constraints, including graduate school deadlines, defense scheduling policies, submission cutoffs, approval processes, and required paperwork.

Why this matters: Institutional requirements shape the entire timeline. Realistic timelines are built backward from fixed deadlines. Without this information, even well-intentioned plans will be misaligned with institutional realities.

2. Estimate Supervisor and Committee Turnaround Times Based on Actual Behavior.

Timeline planning must account for how long supervisors and committee members typically take to return feedback, as well as how many revision cycles they expect.

Why this matters: Most unrealistic timelines fail because feedback loops are underestimated or ignored. Waiting periods and revisions are not gaps in productivity—they are core components of dissertation progress and must be scheduled explicitly.

3. Divide the Dissertation into Phases with Clear Boundaries.

A practical timeline separates the dissertation into distinct, non-overlapping phases such as proposal development, approvals, data work, analysis, writing, revision, and review.

Why this matters: Delays often occur when students attempt to work across multiple phases simultaneously without clear boundaries. Clear phases reduce cognitive overload and prevent tasks from interfering with one another.

4. Identify High-Dependency Tasks and Allocate Extra Time.

Certain tasks cannot begin until others are fully completed, such as data collection following ethical approval or results writing following analysis.

Why this matters: Planning a realistic sequence—rather than a linear chapter order—prevents the common mistake of assuming Chapters 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 in order. Adding buffer time to dependent tasks protects the timeline from cascading delays.

5. Plan Time Blocks Based on Cognitive Load, Not Calendar Weeks.

Different dissertation tasks require different types of mental effort. Analysis, writing, and revision each demand focused attention and should not be heavily mixed within the same week.

Why this matters: Timelines fail when task complexity is underestimated. Most students make faster progress and produce higher-quality work when each period is dominated by a single type of cognitive activity rather than multiple competing demands.

6. Expect Multiple Revision Cycles—Not a Single Draft.

Every major component of the dissertation should be planned as a multi-stage process: initial drafting, supervisor feedback, revision, committee feedback, and final editing.

Why this matters: Assuming that one revision will be sufficient is a common cause of last-minute stress and missed deadlines. Planning for multiple revision cycles creates a more accurate and humane timeline.

7. Integrate Personal Capacity and Constraints

A realistic timeline must account for available weekly work hours, employment obligations, family responsibilities, academic calendar conflicts, and major life events.

Why this matters: Timelines that ignore personal capacity are rarely sustainable. Effective planning adapts the research schedule to life circumstances rather than expecting life to pause for the dissertation.

8. Schedule Administrative Tasks as Real Timeline Items. 

Administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, uploading drafts, preparing defense slides, completing forms, formatting documents, and responding to committee communication must be explicitly included.

Why this matters: These tasks consume time and attention and often cause unexpected delays when they are treated as incidental rather than essential components of the process.

9. Use Backward Planning from the Defense Date. 

Once a realistic defense window is identified, plan backward to determine deadlines for full drafts, revisions, review periods, and preparation activities.

Why this matters: Backward planning enforces logical spacing between milestones and makes the intensity of the final months visible. The final 8–12 weeks typically involve overlapping revisions, preparation, and administrative tasks and should be treated as a high-intensity period.

10. Create a Gantt Chart with Actual Dates and Built-In Buffers.

Translate the timeline into a dated plan that includes start and end points, no-work periods, supervisor and committee availability, and buffer time around dependent tasks.

Why this matters: Buffers convert an optimistic plan into an achievable one. Delays are inevitable; planning for them prevents minor setbacks from becoming major disruptions.

11.  Use Monthly Themes to Maintain Focus and Motivation

Assign each month a dominant focus, such as data collection, analysis, results writing, revision, or defense preparation.

Why this matters: Clear monthly themes help maintain momentum and reduce decision fatigue by clarifying what the primary objective is at any given time.

12. Review and Update the Timeline Monthly.

A dissertation timeline should function as a living document that is reviewed and adjusted regularly.     

Why this matters: Static timelines quickly become obsolete. Regular review allows students to recalibrate expectations, update dependencies, communicate changes to supervisors, and maintain an accurate picture of progress.

Conclusion

A realistic dissertation timeline is not about working faster or harder—it is about planning in a way that reflects institutional structures, cognitive demands, and the inevitability of revision and delay. By grounding the timeline in real constraints and updating it consistently, graduate students can replace chronic uncertainty with a structured, adaptable plan that supports steady progress to completion.

Written by Dr. Omodolapo Ojo

Original ideas developed by the author, with writing refinements assisted by ChatGPT. Published December 28, 2025.

Introduction

As an evaluator, one of the most foundational aspects of my work is crafting evaluation questions that are both rigorous and contextually meaningful. Over time, I’ve distilled several guiding principles that help ensure evaluation questions drive actionable insights while remaining aligned with professional standards.

1. General Criteria for Consideration

Quality evaluation questions should:

• Assess theoretical relevance: Examine the programs' underlying theory or logic to ensure that problems identified, solutions proffered, and expected goals are appropriate for the target population.

• Cover key evaluation dimensions: Include aspects such as implementation (process), effectiveness, outcomes, impact, and sustainability.

These criteria ensure that evaluation questions are methodologically sound and useful for decision-making and continuous improvement.

2. Project-Specific Considerations

Evaluation questions should reflect the unique characteristics and objectives of the project under review. For example:

• Initiatives that depend on inter-institutional collaboration, require questions that explore partnership dynamics and collaborative processes.

• Projects with clearly defined objectives and goals—whether simple, complex, or multi-layered—should have evaluation questions that explicitly align with and assess progress toward those objectives and goals.

The overarching goal is to ensure that evaluation questions remain relevant, actionable, and directly aligned with project goals.

3. Evaluator and Project/Funder Requirements 

Evaluation questions are also shaped by the approach or lens adopted, whether implicitly through professional practice or explicitly through funder requirements.

• Evaluator lens: An evaluator’s perspective or orientation can influence the types of questions posed. . For instance, I consistently consider equity in all evaluations, whether implicitly or explicitly, ensuring that marginalized or underserved populations are not overlooked.

• Mandated perspectives: Depending on the project or funder requirements, evaluation questions may need to reflect specific lenses like feminist perspectives, environmental sustainability, cultural or Indigenous knowledge, health and safety outcomes, technological innovation, economic, stakeholder participation, or co-creation. 

Incorporating these perspectives ensures alignment with funder expectations, ethical standards, and project goals while maintaining methodological rigor.

4. Context-Specific Considerations

The broader context of an evaluation can shape both the content and structure of evaluation questions:

• Methodological considerations: Evaluators may draw on established qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches, and may apply them using specific evaluation designs or orientations such as participatory, developmental, comparative, economic, systems-informed, or rapid-cycle evaluation, depending on the purpose, context, stakeholder needs, and available resources.

• Emerging trends: Innovations such as AI integration are increasingly shaping evaluation questions and methods, and staying connected with these developments is essential for maintaining relevance.

• Broader contextual factors: Political, economic, social, and cultural conditions can affect which questions are feasible, sensitive, or prioritized.

Attending to contextual factors helps ensure that evaluation questions are practical, responsive, and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Bottom Line

Effective evaluation questions are clear, relevant, and actionable. By considering:

• General principles

• Project-specific factors

• Evaluator and funder requirements

• Broader contextual influences

Evaluators can ensure they are asking the questions that matter most—and generating findings that meaningfully inform learning, decision-making, and improvement.

Written by Dr. Omodolapo Ojo. Insights developed by the author, with writing refinements supported by ChatGPT. Published January 14, 2026.

Introduction

Writing is not merely a way of reporting knowledge; it is itself an inquiry process. As we write, new insights unfold—connections become clearer, gaps reveal themselves, and understanding deepens in ways that thinking alone often cannot achieve. The act of putting thoughts into words forces structure, precision, and reflection, often accelerating comprehension of both the subject matter and the process behind it.

This organizing power of writing cuts across contexts. Even a local farmer who takes time to document observations—weather patterns, planting cycles, yields, and challenges—often appears more systematic and intentional than one who relies solely on thinking on their feet. Writing externalizes thought. It stabilizes ideas long enough for them to be examined, refined, and built upon.

Yet, in today’s digital landscape, we are increasingly captivated by short-form video and highly visual “content.” In this rush toward immediacy and entertainment, we are overlooking a fundamental flaw: video is often a barrier to knowledge, not a gateway.

I have come to realize that writing remains the superior medium for three vital reasons.

1. Instantaneous Searchability
When searching for a specific answer, text offers immediate skimmability. A reader can scan a 2,000-word article in seconds to locate a precise concept, phrase, or data point. Video, by contrast, locks information inside a timeline. Unless one invests time watching, pausing, and scrubbing through footage, the knowledge remains effectively inaccessible. Text is indexed and searchable; video is merely stored.

2. Cognitive Efficiency
Writing respects the reader’s time and cognitive autonomy. It allows individuals to process information at their own pace—pausing to reflect, re-reading complex sections, or skipping what they already know. Video dictates the pace of engagement, often embedding a single minute of insight within ten minutes of introductions, digressions, and calls to action. For learning and sense-making, this inefficiency is costly.

3. The Permanence of Knowledge
Text remains the most durable and resilient form of preservation. It is lightweight, easily archived, and accessible even in low-bandwidth environments. While video increasingly prioritizes spectacle, speed, and entertainment, writing preserves depth, nuance, and precision. It allows knowledge to endure beyond trends, platforms, and algorithms.

Conclusion
Video excels at entertainment and visual demonstration, but it is poorly suited for deep thinking, systematic inquiry, and rapid knowledge retrieval. Writing, by contrast, is both a tool for learning and a repository of understanding. In a world increasingly dominated by motion and noise, the written word remains—and will always remain—king.

Written by Dr. Omodolapo Ojo. Insights developed by the author, with writing refinements supported by ChatGPT. Published January 23, 2026.

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