======= Date Modified 17 Jul 2011 08:22:26 =======
Hello guys. Luck struck, I have been preparing for an interview, and can't find an appropriate answer to the question "have you applied at other companies?"

I had to modify the post.....I found the answer I was looking for. Very very sorry for the change. Thank you!

Hello Twomules, I think it depends on your dependent variable, if it is count, continuous, etc...
If it is a count dependent variable, you can use a zero-inflated poisson or negative binomial to balance the data, as in reduce too many females in the sample (reduce too many zero's.)
If it is a continuous variable, I would go with Sneaks, control for the gender.

Or I would analyze the data as it is (a lot of females, too few males), run a second analysis but this time, I'd reduce the female sub-sample by 30% and keep the male sample. Then I would compare the two analyses to see if they are different. If they are not different, then the original sample would be ok.

That's just my guess....maybe somebody can confirm?

Snow, we all want to minimize agression around us. The thing is, no one is in a position to tell when an emotion is appropriate. You can have an appropriate or inappropriate behavior or reaction, but emotion? I think it's more complicated, and I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that. It just sounds strange (to me) to have an appropriate emotion. Under what circumstances are you SUPPOSED to feel X and Y? How do you tell when your feeling is appropriate? Do you beat yourself up if you have an inappropriate emotion? Who decides whether your emotion is appropriate?

If you really think about it, prolonged exhaustion and frustration may lead to hate (and many other possible emotions, apathy among them). These are not buckets where you can put frustration in one, exhaustion in another, etc...Feelings are a continuum, in my opinion. We go through different phases, we can't box what we feel.

Don't get me wrong, I *think* I got your point. We want to be caring and nurturing of others (like poor, sleepless phd students). We just have different ways of manifesting them. I understand what you are trying to say, and I think it's a really really good point. Just one thing, in my opinion, I would be careful with your wording, like in the quote....it can come across as self-righteous.

That's just my opinion. I see the value of what you're trying to say, really. Just give some people breathing space. You probably grieved during the downturns in your life. Let the others grieve for theirs.

I mean no harm, just saying my 2 cents.'(mince)

Olivia: Amen!
That was a good laugh!

hm, i just remembered,there is also a happy thread, you can search for it. Just thought you might like it :) i think it's been a while since somebody posted there. Maybe u can keep the thread going? That won't be a bad project.

nobody is perpetuating a myth here. People talk about their own experiences. You have the choice not to read the ''hate'' messages. Pls don't simply ask people to ''stop.'' thanks for sharing the wisdom you've learned. It's up to us to take it or not, and learn from there.

Do you get the chance to get a feedback prior to your defense?
Do you just submit and then go for the defense, or do you get a chance to revise if your sup thinks you're not ready for the defense yet?

I looked for it too, not in my database:-(

======= Date Modified 09 Jul 2011 13:55:58 =======
I admire your positive outlook Snow, and I'm sorry about your parents and parents in law. But I agree with KB, pjlu and Eska here. Some people come to this forum as an outlet for their feelings of helplessness and frustration. At the workplace, we try to be civil as much as possible, and we can't always "act out" the hate. We sometimes try to discuss the issues with sups or co-workers in a civil way, but things don't always change for the positive. We can talk to it about our friends and partners. But sometimes they don't really understand, even if they try their best, especially when they haven't been through the PhD experience, like "what are you so stressed about, it's just a piece of paper?"

I believe that if we can't do anything to turn the situation pleasant or tolerable, then we have to change the way we see things. I really think people try to do that, but it is not always easy, and it doesn't work like a zap.

My take on this is that many people do not want to dwell on hate, but circumstances can get really tough. I think it would be nice to acknowledge that as people, we have a range of emotions and frustration, hate, and the feeling that somebody understands us are definitely no exception. I think many people would like to move on as quickly as possible to get over these feelings. If you read through it, you'll see that some people don't just "hate," they want to move forward too.

I am not encouraging people to hate or complain all the time. What I am saying is that we should let them express the frustration in a world that is supposedly governed by rules of civility (which is really incomprehensible when violated by supervisors and co-workers we trust and respect). If that's what they need to move on, why not let them vent?

You yourself started to question whether the supervision you got is "normal." That is for sure one factor that attracted you to join this forum. You wanted to know if things really work that way. You did not "hate" per se, but imagine having these kinds of questions in mind for 4-5 years. It can take its toll even for the most patient people.

I have a then new co-worker whose paper was literally torn apart by her supervisor, in her face, because she exceeded the word count by 10 words. She asked me if this was "normal." My awkward answer was "in this place, it is normal." The admins couldn't do anything about the sup's behavior because she brings in a lot of publications from the "respected" journals.

So you have a Hungarian lover? :-x
Just playing around, I thought I saw a dating thread here not so long ago:-)

Sorry, I can't help with your request. Hope you find good tutors and resources.

Yes Snow, it's not an uncommon experience, may even be the norm. Some supervisors cut through the chase ang go straight to the parts that need improvement. If they don't mention the other parts, it means they are alright (I'm speaking for myself here). This method, or ritual, as you point out (I agree), can be very discouraging.

Some sups just work that way, while others get some kind of ego boost on giving feedback, whether the feedback is useful or not. The thing is, it is rarely easy to tell genuine for-your-own-good feedback from an ego-boost feedback. It could be both at the same time. You'll learn over time as you get to know the sup. But it is trivial to try to figure it out. The important thing is to take whatever feedback you can and use it to improve your work.

It also helps to mentally prepare for this "ritual." You'll be getting into it a lot. It will occupy a good part of your life for the next few years, so it's good to have some prep. This ritual may coincide with your bad mood/bad hair day, and would seem like the last thing you need.You may not be 100% prepared. You might hear things you never expect to hear. In any case it's good to have the awareness that this is "just" a part of the PhD, and more often less personal than it seems. Lots of luck.

Jwhoah, I think that's a healthy mindset. In my case, when I get a negative feedback from my sups, I just remember that they're not there to cheer me on, they are there to point out my work's weaknesses. So they're just doing what they are supposed to do, abusive remarks aside. Goodluck with continuing your PhD.

Congrats Dunni! Well done!

Ok Doodles, you've got those M&Ms too :p

Nichola: cyber M&Ms and skittles for you :-) Nothing important to say...just i get you...