Overview of Melsie

Recent Posts

Masters application
M

Is it for a masters starting in October 2010? If so, it might just be because you applied so early. Couldn't hurt to follow it up though, so you at least get some idea of when they will make a decision.

Are we just cheaper research assistants?
M

I'm in psychology and that sounds about right. Most people will start collecting data quite quickly but do the reading simultaneously. Probably you had some experiments planned in your proposal anyway and that's what you're doing now? I don't really think it's about being a cheap RA, more about wanting to see if your first idea will generate some interesting data and leaving you enough time to move on to Plan B if it doesn't work out.

the film review thread
M

I saw avatar a couple days ago, it was brilliant. I think it's the 3D making you feel like you're actually there. :-)

what does this equation symbol mean?
M

======= Date Modified 28 Jan 2010 11:58:57 =======
Hey Buttercup,

Don't multiply what's in the brackets, that's just a reference to some characteristics of your data. In the brackets, substitute DFhyp with the degrees of freedom for your variable, and substitute DFerr with the degrees of freedom for the error - these values should be in the output of whatever stats package you're using.
e.g. if DFhyp=2 and DFerr=29, write "F(2,29)=..."

another stats question help please
M

Keenbean's right, it's r squared that gives you proportion of variance explained.

And yeah, that's what you say about multicolinearity, but I think you should say which variable they are multicollinear with e.g.
"Variables X3 and X4 have been excluded from the model because they have multicolinearity with variable X1"

Research Proposal
M

If you're applying for PhD then you should already have made contact with a prospective supervisor. So you could ask them to provide you with old proposals that their current PhD students used to apply.

I doubt anyone on here will send you their own proposal because they're not published articles so there's nothing to stop you using it yourself.

V embarrassing situation
M

Quote From jinkim65:

======= Date Modified 20 Jan 2010 18:51:04 =======
Step away from the books... pick up something more rewarding, like the True Blood series of books!

No, don't! The True Blood books are even more addictive :p

V embarrassing situation
M

Ah... I understand this so well. I bought the first book on Sunday... I'm now just starting the last one. :$ Needless to say, work has fallen by the wayside a little bit this week...

Please help :( another negative post!
M

My view on this is regardless of what mark you get, you should always be asking for feedback on how to improve. And when you do, if you don't understand it or agree with it, it's absolutely fair to ask the person to elaborate.
So take a couple of days to get your head together, then go see the marker and ask them about the feedback they gave you. You don't have to mention that you're thinking of making a complaint, just get the record straight on why you got the low mark. If you still think the grade wasn't fair, then they can always bring in someone else (e.g. external examiner) to investigate.

Recognition at last
M

Quote From cleverclogs:

Woo. It's official, we're humane, humorous, and then some. (up)

Oh Cleverclogs... I don't think they're talking about you sweetie ;-)

x factor
M

Quote From Keep_Calm:

It's Strictly Come Dancing only for me. I like to kid myself that I'm learning something about dance so it's slightly educational :-) I'm obsessed and have tickets to the live show :$


Ha me too, I love strictly :-) Ooh when do you go to the show? I'll be so jealous if you have tickets to the final! :p

Question Time With...
M

I think the answer to 2 would be that as the lift starts to fall you get thrown up to the ceiling. Then basically you are free-falling at the same speed as the lift - it hits the ground first and then you smash into the floor of the lift and die. There would be nowhere to jump from cos you wouldn't be touching the floor?
Or maybe you would stay on the floor, but you couldn't counter the force of gravity pulling you down enough to try to jump? Hmm.

Writing up - not happening!
M

Quote From nhr115:

Quote From Sue2604:


Lately I've taken to working in 25 minute blocks, using a timer:http://mytomatoes.com/ and seeing how many I can do in a day. If I know that I only have to work for 25 minutes, then 20 minutes, then 15 etc, and then I can take a break, I tend to focus harder and work better.




Sue I just have to thank you so much for introducing this website to us. I used it today for the first time and have to admit that today has been my most productive day ever. I know it may well be a coincidence but I'm certainly going to carry on using it :-)

Yeah, thanks Sue, I used it this weekend too to get this article written - it works really well. Something about setting the timer for only a short period of time stops me getting distracted. (up)

Belle de Jour is a Post doc !?!
M

Quote From cleverclogs:

From a government paper 'Paying the Price, a consultation paper on prostitution, has been published to prompt a public debate on how to deal with the issues raised by prostitution in England and Wales'

What problems are caused by the existence of a sex ‘trade’?

2.17 Prostitution makes victims of many of those involved in it, and of those communities in which it takes place.
Key concerns include:
-the nuisance caused to neighbourhoods through noise, litter and harassment
-the impact on the neighbourhood in terms of undermining economic regeneration
-and neighbourhood renewal
-the advertising of prostitution, particularly through soliciting on the street and
-the use of prostitutes’ cards
-the spread of sexually and drug transmitted infections
-increasing use of the internet as a grooming/advertising medium
-links with drug abuse / markets
-links with criminality, including robbery
-related violence, including serious assaults against those involved in prostitution
-the increasing stigmatisation and social exclusion of those involved in prostitution
-the abuse of children through prostitution
-the impact on their families
-people trafficking for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
-the effect on the attitudes of men to women, and on gender equality more generally.

I just skimmed that paper. Most of the figures are in the form of 'as many as X%' - powerful statistical analysis there ;-)

It also says "There are no identified benefits associated with prostitution" - well presumably for someone like BdJ there is one big benefit: money.

Quite frankly, the paper looks to be just as bullshit as your argument...

Viva loveliness!
M

No corrections is awesome! (up)

Congratulations, very well done 8-)

Maybe once you've had a chance to celebrate, you can give some tips on the viva?