I thought you only did that with different levels of the same variable e.g. Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. But then if more than one variable has a skew and one will end up examining different levels of it, it needs transforming.

If you were going to transform every IV and every DV in the same analysis regardless of skew, surely you'd risk transforming normal data into negatively skewed data?

Hello all

I know that it is often useful to log-transform a variable if the data is positively skewed, so I am planning to do this for both my DVs. The main element of my dissertation is a 2x2 ANOVA. However, I have also gathered data on a lot of other variables which I consider to be my IVs in that I will see if there are correlations between them and my DVs. Some of these IVs have data which is positively skewed as well. Not all, but some. My question is, should you transform any positively skewed data you find, or is it only applicable to DVs?

Thanks!

Thanks, Luci and Bleebles.

Yes, some of this is about perfectionism and procrastination actually. I'm a lot better than I used to be (I use the Pomodoro technique), but I am very torn between wanting to get this particular MSc over with quickly and actually doing it well. The resulting indecision has cost me in terms of time, but now I am just trying to focus second by second and not chastise myself. The moment you start chastising yourself you get stressed and it's a whole new waste of time. I am going to attempt to do this dissertation reasonably well, but not perfectly. To try to do it perfectly would interfere with the 1+3, and that and the associated funding will have much more impact on my life long-term.

Luci - I had to laugh about the 'apple cores' detail. I remember a particular nadir in my life a few years ago when I realised I must be depressed as there were about 15 empty taramasalata tubs piled up on my desk which I had failed to bin. My desk is much tidier these days...

Hi Luci

Thanks for your reply. I am aware I must come across as something of a whinger. I think it is about time management, and also managing my anxiety by focusing on the tasks. Pulling back from committee work is sensible. Basically these kinds of time management dilemmas are frequent in academic life and if I want to be part of that scene I'd better get used to them now. It is reassuring to know how quickly you managed your own writeup and it helps me to believe that similar timescales might be possible for me too.

Thanks so much for your words. (up)

I am feeling very overwhelmed with work at the moment. I am starting a 1+3 on 4th October, and I know I need to get 65% or more on the MSc part overall to get the PhD funding for the following 3 years.

Unfortunately I am still finishing my dissertation from my current MSc at this point, and I am sure it is going to overlap with the new MSc. Writing up my current dissertation has turned out to be unexpectedly mathematical due to the methodology I used and I think it might take quite a while to get my head around it. I do actually have until March to finish this, but I don't want to jeopardise my performance on my new MSc as my funding is contingent on those marks.

I fell behind on the current dissertation as I was working full-time doing shift work this summer and it was really hard to accomplish much each week. Luckily my job ended as of yesterday, as my funding is soon to kick in.

I am also chair of an academic society and we on the committee must organise a conference and a few other events by the end of the year so the pressure is on there.

And also over the next month or so I must write up a report pertaining to the finances of my elderly mother as I am her Deputy for the Court of Protection. So that is a little time-consuming.

We also recently had bedbugs at home and sorting out that problem used up yet more time.

I feel overwhelmed and I think something has to give. I can step back from the committee work a little. Some others have suggested I just write up a really cr*p dissertation for my current MSc, as the rest of my academic career is not dependent on it. But to write up something badly would feel awful to my self-respect and I do want to use it as a learning experience. And I also feel that to do that would be disrespectful to my current supervisor who is such a good teacher and supporter.

But I think that maybe something has to give. I am trying to use breathing exercises and keep calm, but am finding it difficult. I don't know whether I can get through this whole thing based on breathing exercises or whether I will have to withdraw from some of my commitments. I also don't want this to impact on my relationships with others too much. Erk. I am confused.

:-((sprout)(down)

Well I certainly hope to go the PDF route with most of my stuff - which is probably easier if you're a scientist rather than a historian. A friend of mine plans to keep all her stuff on her iPad. Dunno how realistic that is...

I have a very small living space, and as I contemplate the 1+3 that I am soon starting I wonder how I am going to store all my stuff for the MSc and PhD.

I am certainly finally willing to jettison the lecture notes from my conversion course in Psychology, even though they have some sentimental value as they started me on this journey. But as my discipline is science anyway, it could be the case that apart from one or two new books most of the stuff I will read will be in PDF form. It could be the case that the only paperwork I amass will be data, rather than literature.

How much paperwork have you amassed? Several filing cabinets full? Or is all your stuff on the hard drive of your tiny netbook? Or something in between?

Bleebles, Slizor, Chrisrolinski and Sneaks - you are all so kind! Hopefully this is just a small infestation as it seems to be just one bed that's affected. My day job is working with people who live in hostels so it's conceivable I could have picked it up from them. There are apparently 'corridors' of bedbugs in London leading from Gatwick and Heathrow airports into the centre. Also a lot between Elephant & Castle and Lewisham, I understand.

Right, two hours of work ahoy! before the great Fumigation Preparation.

There is a big hole in the wall in the bathroom. A toddler could get through it, never mind a mouse. Think I will endeavour to move house in the next 6 months. There are various reasons to do so, and this can be the catalyst.

Not hoovering in 18 months! I quite admire that, speaking as a slight sloven myself. Wish we had floorboards, but it's rented and we've got carpets. I also wish it were much cooler. I can't bear too much heat, as it does encourage creepy-crawlies, but my flatmate loves a warm environment. I grew up in a less-than-immaculate house but never experienced vermin of any sort. In this flat I have developed good cleaning habits and despite that we have had bedbugs, moths, roaches and mice. Bloody climate change. Oh, and we do live above shops.

The only thing one can do in a crisis at dissertation time is to stay in the moment rather than ruminating or stressing, concentrate on the work as one is doing it, deal with the problem at hand and try to stay calm. Am a notorious insomniac though, so hope all this doesn't stop me sleeping. I must stay calm. Erk.

Anyway, that's my 5-min break gone. Onwards with the work.

Thanks for your support, Sneaks!

The exterminators have said that as a start we need to hoover, wash all bedclothes at 50 degrees, and shake out anything e.g. books that have been on the floor near the bed and put it all in black binliners. Oh and I have to destroy all the cardboard storage boxes that were under my bed. So as a first pass it's just a matter of dealing with stuff that has touched the bed. But it's a frigging nightmare.

But it seems they are really prevalent right now (mainly due to warm winters and international travel), so I suppose we can't be the only ones... they can happily travel on public transport. Honestly, for all those of an OCD persuasion (I'm not one) it's vindication of all those slightly odd habits.

Must try to emotionally dissociate and continue with my work!

So it's been hard enough lately finishing my MSc dissertation while working full-time.

And now it seems we have bedbugs! They don't seem to be in my room, but in my flatmate's room, but we're having both rooms treated tomorrow as a precaution. The exterminators have to come out several times to deal with it, but the whole thing is loads of upheaval. I just hope they are exterminated quickly, but sounds like there's an epidemic at the mo if you Google it.

I am trying to keep calm and get on with my work, but even tomorrow's fumigation means another day of dissertation work lost.

A) Ugh :-(
B) Grrrrr :-s

Thank you very much Jepsonclough for your input. I too have my MSc dissertation to finish ASAP. I am starting a 1+3 ESRC funded thing on 4th October so ideally I don't want overlap between that and my current Masters. I need to get, at the VERY least, a first draft of this dissertation in by 3rd October at latest.

Only bugger is I am working full-time till 24th September, but I reckon that even on the days I am most tired (I do bloody shift work) I can do one hour on the diss. On better days I can do 2 or 3 hours, and at weekends I can do all day and evening.

Was thinking of starting Masters accountability thread if there is the need for it (though judging by the word of Jepsonclough, that might well be procrastination in itself). All hail Jepsonclough! (up)

You'll get a 'Helpful User' star if you do!

Psychocultural impact of cybersex on sexuality of Nigerian youths Olufemi A Lawal

African Journal for Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 8(1) 2005: 132-153

Thanks!
Ogriv

(up)

Stress at the moment in response to needing to finish my current MSc dissertation while working shifts full-time. This is all before the end of September, when I will be enrolling on a new MSc as part of 1+3 funding I have gratefully secured. It would be insane to find myself come October trying to juggle two Masters at once... but that is the risk!

Therefore I have two involuntary eye twitches at the mo. One in each eye, each in a different place. Oh joy.

Keep going, everyone!



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