Continuing SarahM question, what do you think about the following situation: has the name of the person who did the data analysis for the paper to go on the paper as well? I often do statistical data analysis for other people (i.e. analysis+report on findings), they pay for it, but my name never goes on papers, despite they include in the paper my report without or with minor corrections. Isnt data analysis as valuable contribution to the study as the rest, especially taking into account that there are not so many people who can do compex analysis as I do? What are your opinions and/or experiences?

Hi SarahM, very upsetting situation indeed..Is that another person your supervisor want to put on your paper him/her or the leader of research groups (smth like that) who got the funding for the research you have done? If yes, well many universities there is a tradition that then you have to list them on your paper. However, if it is not the case, they have no rights to demand to be on your paper! Stand up for yourself and simply explain your supervisor as you did for us-you and only you did the work and therefore you and only you are the author of the paper. Good luck!

If the work you have done is good and the only problem is your writen Enlish, the worst thing that could happen is that examiners will ask you to correct the language mistakes, i.e. you will pass with corrections. Just wonder- didnt you give your thesis for proofreading?

you are not alone. If not CV and an opportunity to travel on the expenses of the department, I would not go to conferences, as they make me feel as the most boring, uninteresting person with a lack of communication skills. Especially bad are large congresses and conferences. But very good are very small specialised conferences, there everyone is usually very interested in each others work and very open to new contacts. So one suggestion is to look for specialised conferences on your topic.

ras 31: 25-30K- where postdocs get such salary???

I am applying despite that postdoc salary in my field is max 22K. Will churn out several publications while doing postdoc and then try to get a proper lecturer post. I am afraid that it is impossible to get a lecturership without postdoc:(

Congratulations UFO! Well done! It books they say that after finishing you will feel anti-climax and 'posnatal depression', including feelig of life being empty;))

That is a very intelligent approach, indeed:)

The formula forpower calculation has to be in any dictionary of statistics, btw

In which field are you? It depends from the field what software you use for statistics (I use SPSS and STATA). But in any case, all softwares have functions for calculation of Cronbachs. Regarding calculating the power- there is a special equation for it almost in any stats book, I really dont rememebr it by heart. Good luck!

how do you feel about your non-existing social life? Maybe it is alright for a while?Sometimes it is good to focus on one thing....

The thing that currently upsets me about my social life is that there is a bunch of 'friends'who call me up and talk half an hour about...themselves....and never ask how me and my PhD are doing...especially now when I am on my final stage of writing up pressed by expiring scholarship. All they talk are about themselves...

Think about some benefit they can get from your research...for example,attention of policy makers finally will be attracted to their problems etc.

cmml100, I am afraid at the PhD level you are already expected either to know what to do or to go out and find out what and how to do it. For example, there is plenty of literature on conference presentations, at least try to google for tips. But taking into acoount that you are doing PhD in the field completely diferent from your previous studies, discuss thse difficulties with supervisor--what is the basic literature he suggests you to read etc.

Just wonder, how you guys cope with the feeling that the more you read the more you understand that you dont know and the more you need to read, not write? I write 2 paragraphs a day because I feel that I must read any cross-referece I come across.....:(

oh, dear, the darkest night is always before the sunrise....Do you want a hug?

Recently we had a seminar on publication for PhD students. The advice from the faculty was quite contradictionary: one the one hand- most important thing is your PhD, later you will make publications out of it. on the other hands- with PhD, no publications it wont be easy to find a good job straight away. The conclusion is: publications are not obligatory but are as a bonus. And if you will have a brilliant PhD it will be very easy to make publications out of it.