Hi, everyone. I was hoping for some advice from those folks who do interview/survey type research. I saw a lot of posts on the old board about human studies but didn't pay a lot of attention. Now it seems that wasn't such a good idea. The current plan is to assign a unique code to each person who posted to the board and never use the posters' names. But anonyminity (sp?) can't be guaranteed if quotes are used. Someone with a lot of time on their hands could go through every post (assuming the old sites is eventually reposted somewhere), find the thread and potentially figure out who it might be. How do others deal with these issues? Does every poster have to submit a release form? I'd planned on checking with people when I use di ect quotes from their posts but what about the other ones? Might there be a guideline type book that would give some general ideas and recommendations for these kinds of sticky questions? -Rochelle

Ok, Kharyssa - let's start the brainstorming on book names. Here are a few to seed the discussion... You Are Not Alone - Graduate Students Talking To Other Graduate Students On The PhinisheD Webpage The Unofficial Encyclopedia of Graduate Student Wisdom Graduate Student Truths - From the PhinisheD Internet Site IF the book is picked up, I'm sure the publisher would want some say in the title. But you never know... -Rochelle

A true PhinisheD title would most definitely have a colon in it!

I like the encyclopedia one! Though why not something that will reflect its humorous side, like maybe: Jack and Jill Fell Down the Hill: How to tuck and roll your way through graduate studies. or the more pedestrian: The Survivor's Guide to Graduate Studies. ooh ooh... why don't you approach the "idiot's guide" people and propose an "The Idiot's Guide to Graduate Studies"? Or the dummy people: "Graduate Work for Dummies"? These titles are really ironic since we are neither idiot's nor dummies in our fields, but are certainly novice to the process. You could have all kinds of funnies in the margins... running tips like: drink lots of coffee, consider moving into your office (save time and money), 101 ways to cook Ramen noodles; and serious stuff like: take lon walks to clear your mind, setting priorities, etc. With the book I'm doing right now, the publisher didn't make any moves towards the title. They did, however, ask us to research an apparent hole in our prospectus about a claim we make (that the book is the first of its kind). They didn't say a damned thing about anything else. Don't we have a publisher on the board? Here's how we did it: We wrote up a draft prospectus (an abstract) explainning the purpose and the topics covered. Then we solicited for contributions (which you already have from the board). In your prosepectus, make it very clear that the internet is your source for topical material, but not the whole of your book. Once you have written the prospectus, then write a possible outline of chapters. Then figure out a possible timeline for finishing the project. Once this is done, you can then send it all out to several potential publishers, and then sit and wait for a taker. Once someone bites, you'll have to negotiate such things as length, paperback only, price, and release date. Of course, we'd want to keep this book as cheap and accessible as possible. Also, think about publishing it on the web... if you hold the copyright the book may be published in both forums. The ethical question you raise about using threads from the board is a tricky one, but it can be solved easily: don't mention the name of the board. Use an ambiguous phrase like 'internet chat groups' and use material froma few other places as well [there are 2 or 3 others, but we are the most active]. This may be counter to the opportunity to advertise the board in the book, but it would protect everyone on here. If some tricky-dicky did find the board, and figured out who was who, neither you or Amy cou d be held responsible. The other option is to solicit everyone's permission (which means bringing the lurkers out of the woodwork) which may stanch posting on the board for the (remote) fear of having your thoughts and problems published and consequently that a person could be found out. sorry to ramble.... I have so much to say since the board was down, but not enough time to type it all! -k-

Cracks in the Walls: Graduate Students Talk About Life in the Ivory Tower CarolR - Do we have to have a colon??? :-)

Well, I SUPPOSE we could do without one. But then, you have to start the title with "On" - as in, "On the trials and tribulations of woebegone graduate students" etc etc etc For a while, nearly every dissertation in the engineering school started that way. We are such creative people, aren't we?

Or could make a huge joke of the colons and have a bunch of them. Dissertating on Dissertating: Group Support in the Ether: Hang Together and Stay Sane: Most of the Time

Rochelle, I think if you change or obscure the specifics (names, disciplines, dates, universities, etc.), then you are doing more than enough to protect the innocent among us! After all, PhinisheD is a public forum, everybody knows it, and tacit approval for "publication" of one's comments is given as soon as the "post" or "submit" button is clicked. If you're appropriately sensitive to the issue of concealing specific personal information, then you've met your ethical obligations. Because of the tacit approval that's already been given, I certainly don't think that any particular release or waiver from the participants is necessary. I'm sure that whatever argument you're trying to support or whatever picture you're trying to paint can be handled in this way without sacrificing the depth, clarity, or richness of the story you're telling. So go for it!     -Tom

Rochelle just use the ADVISOR_PERSON in the book somewhere I loved that one! :) I for one don't care if you use my name, but think it would be best to use a code name for everyone, both Kharyssa and Tom had better ideas about that then I do. As for titles I think you have some great ones here, espically liked the overuse of colons, but you need to add to it so it reads, Dissertating on Dissertating: Group Support in the Ether: Hang Together and Stay Sane: Most of the Time: Learn How to Survive Your Disseration and How to Properly Use a Colon. Chrissie

Rochelle, any thoughts to including a sub-topic on "maddening hurdles" like the GRE and the admission process? -k-

How's it going with the book or prospectus?

Hi, guys. Wow, everybody's so excited about this I feel like it needs to be written by tomorrow! And we all know that's an unrealistic pact. :-) I'm at the beginning of writing the prospectus but am hesitating about writing the chapter outline. Since I haven't run the data yet, I'm concerned I might miss something or worse yet a topic I put down has no supporting posts. But I do have a brainstorming outline that I'll attach at the end of this post for you to salivate over. Thanks for the feedback on ADVISOR-PERSON. Sometimes the creative juices go into overdrive and stuff like that happens. I thought it was pretty funny myself and still giggle when I read it. Wouldn't it be interesting to have each chapter or section of the book to have a humorous opening like ADVISOR-PERSON? I'm investigating cartooning and creating characters. After I have a few done AND get the scanner back up (long story), I'll add them to my homepage (when I get around to finishing that!) and let ou guys tell me which you prefer - the verbal descriptions or the cartoons. What about a name? "The Further Adventures of ADVISOR-PERSON" would require ADVISOR-PERSON to be the central character which restricts the storyline too much. What about "Letters from the Ivory Tower" or "Ivory Tower Realities"? There will be a central cast of characters that includes both students and faculty (designated by motarboards - Thanks for the idea K!) That's a lot of stuff to do. Don't forget I work full-time and want to do that research which was postponed. But this book will be fun and I get a kick out of hearing from you guys. Ok, here's the brainstormed outline. BTW, this was generated by Inspiration, a mind-mapping software program. Encyclopedia of Graduate Student Wisdom -- As Compiled from Experiences Shared on the PhinisheD Webpage major topic specific question Correlations? solutions complaint request for help success / failure guilt/overachievementitus Pacts Offline Talks? emotional issues fear depression lonliness Relationship issues anger Practical Issues Time management motivation children jobs advisors dealing with professor Choosing a University politics prestige faculty more than one faculty in your field retiring advisors emeritus advisors political game players check with other grad students e:mail students check current people you know for ideas look at graduation records of school (how do this?) academic vs. research faculty advisors Funding grants working for the school/advisor loans self funded social interactions disscam like connects offline e:mail posting on PhinisheD Ben Deans Workshops Committees Analyses timeline of population topics of interest over time recurring themes coding Date time full message Name/Alias

Wow, that post sucked! Sorry for the messed up outline - all the formating was deleted! Well, hope you guys get the general idea, as it develops I'll get a better format for posting.

Keep your fingers crossed... Encyclopedia of Graduate Student Wisdom -- As Compiled from Experiences Shared on the PhinisheD Webpage I. major topic A. specific question 1. Correlations? a. solutions B. complaint C. request for help D. success / failure E. guilt/overachieve-mentitus F. Pacts G. Offline Talks? H. emotional issues 1. fear 2. depression 3. lonliness 4. Relationship issues 5. anger I. Practical Issues 1. Time management 2. motivation 3. children 4. jobs 5. advisors 6. dealing with professor 7. Choosing a University a. politics b. prestige c. faculty i. more than one faculty in your field ii. retiring advisors iii. emeritus advisors iv. political game players v. check with other grad students - e:mail students - check current people you know for ideas - look at graduation records of school (how do this?) vi. academic vs. research faculty advisors d. Funding i. grants ii. working for the school/advisor iii. loans iv. self funded 8. social interactions a. disscam like connects b. offline e:mail c. posting on PhinisheD d. Ben Deans Workshops 9. Committees II. Analyses A. timeline of population B. topics of interest over time C. recurring themes III. coding A. Date B. time C. full message D. Name/Alias

Hi R The outline looks promising. I didn't quite understand what "correlations" meant, but I assume, given our on-line sense of humour, that all of the topic headings will be a bit punchier and more descriptive. I guess you're going to be getting lots of input as you go along. Let us kow if we get too overbearing! One of things I notice in diss books is they are either Joan Baulker style - helping you get through the mental hurdles, or they are technical: "how to set up a proposal". It seems like ours is more psychologically/politically oriented, is that right?

I think the style will develop itself as I begin writing. However, the way I'm currently thinking it will probably be a combination. Kind of like here are the hurdles, here are technical suggestions to overcome the hurdles, here are the ramifications of the suggestions and here's a bit of humor to help you keep your sanity. You guys have seen a bit of how I write. I've been told I have a "chatty" style so it sure won't be a pure how-to book. At the same time, I have my own opinions about stuff that I plan to temper severely and highlight what the people on PhinisheD have said. The book won't sugar-coat grad student life but it won't be totally negative. I prefer to think of it as an honest description of graduate student life from the perspective of the student. There will be highs and lows, laughter and tears - just li e on the board. Thanks for bringing up the point Anita. That's something that must be addressed as part of the prospectus. -Rochelle

Hey Rochelle, how about "Letters from the Dungeon of the Ivory Tower"?     -Tom

Since I know the gist of the book that title sounds cute. But what about people who will be judging the book by its cover? Does that title sound at all hopeful? Bunches of people from the board have PhinisheD successfully, just not all of the stayed around to chat afterwards. I like the idea of emphasizing that the book is about many people's experiences. What about "Letters from Inside the Ivory Tower"? -Rochelle

The title should definitely include the word PhinisheD and use a colon (makes all the academics at home) also the marketing angle for this book is tha it is by grad students at work not just faculty members who have arrived. Also perhaps a section on spouses/partners maybe these longsuffering, support- ive folk might like to write something to include themselves. A bib with either brief annotations or review about books we have read directed at phinishing phds. Also perhaps for fun the academic satire. Rochelle, while my husband worked in the music bus for a while not print media he does know a bit about copyright. So if I can ask him anything let me know I think this book will be great. Especially helpful would be implimentable (sp?) suggestions like the thesis binder and paring down the lit. Cheers, Deb

Hi guys, I don�t know why but my brain is just not getting into to this format. I am grateful we have a place in cyberspace to stay together, but I am longing for our old format. I liked to be able to peruse the screen and jump into a discussion that I felt I could contribute to. Here it is just too much work to figure out where the discussion is. Anywho...I�m glad our talk about a book is taking off. Rochelle, I�d love to help. I like the idea of a title being done with a sense of humor, but I don�t think it shou d be too too silly. I think we have a very serious contribution to make in this area. To my knowledge there is no book out there done by people currently or having just Phinished so we have a precedent to set. I also didn�t understand some of the categories in the prospectus. Are we going to create an outline and see how it fills out with support from the strings or are you planning to analyze the strings and sort them into concepts like grounded theory?? An easier outline might be something like What it takes to Phinish: that fire in your belly advice Nuts and Bolts: practical issues that noone ever tells us The Dissertation in the Face of Power: dealing with administration, committee, and others Between two worlds: family, friends and dissertation a. how to combine those worlds b. "don�t do what I did" warnings about priorities c. off-campus advice for trying to Phinish from far away Getting started-getting done: a. the psychological mindset stuff b. the practical/logistical timeframe advice c. substantive advice about putting it together You may get what you asked for, or what do you do once you�re Phinished? I just did this off the top of my head. As I�m trying to work out the outline for my own dissertation I was in an outline kind of mood. Anyway, Rochelle my e-mail is jclough_riquelme@quanta.com.py is you want to correspond in another medium. See ya all, Jane Title suggestion... How to Conquer the Ivory Tower: reflections on the dissertation process from a cyberspace support group.

Rochelle, I reread my post and gave the wrong e/mail. It is jclough_riquelme@hotmail.com Jane title correction...from the cyberspace support group-"Phinished"... How's that??

Rochelle's old post about meeting basics could go in the Nuts and Bolts chapter. I have to stop frittering now

Maybe add a category for discussions about age and pursuing a Ph.D./thesis. (We've had a few threads about folks feeling almost "too old" to start or phinish a grad degree, and some threads about younger grad students feeling left out of certain academic cicles because of age.) Barb