Just one comment, Question 2 is a bit vague, it's hard, for example, to really know the difference between 'frequently' and 'often'. To one person, often could mean 'once a month' and to the next it could mean 'once a week'. I suggest that you give timescales as possible answers, e.g.:

2. How often do you use e-commerce sites (i.e shop online)?

Once a day
Once a week
Once a month
Less that once a month

Thanks again to everyone who gave advice on this. I had a huge rush to get it submitted in time. I'll tell you why, because it may serve as a note and a warning to others submitting applications. I was using an online application form, if you've ever used one of these you'll know that typing large amounts of text into those boxes is fiddly. So I wrote my text in a word document, and planned to copy and paste it into the little online text box. However, when I came to do the copying and pasting, a message appeared telling me:
"20563 characters entered (max 7500).
You have exceeded the maximum number of characters allowed. Please revise your answer"
So I had to (very quickly, I was approaching the deadline) cut two-thirds of my text away!
So guys, take it from me, check if there is a word / character count on your online forms!

Hello,

I've been invited for an interview for a postdoc that I'm really keen on. It's in the UK. the invitation I received said that the interview would begin at 11am and finish at 11.30am. Thirty minutes seems terribly short to me for this kind of interview. I was wondering is that the usual length? Does anyone have experiences of post doc interviews that they'd like to share? It's in the area of sociology/public health if that makes a difference?

Thanks, that's a good idea, I suspect what happened here was a bit of over-eager copying and pasting and a lack of proofreading by HR.

Thanks AislingB, that's what I think "practical application of qualitative research" means too. But what then does "practical application of qualitative research methods" mean?

I don't see how I can give different answers for application of qualitative research methods and application of qualitative research.

I have to, by default, use qualitative research methods to do qualitative research.

I'm sorry but I still don't understand how to fill this in. I don't understand how I can give a diifferent answer for my experience of:
"practical application of qualitative research methods"
and
"practical application of qualitative research".
It looks to me that I should give exactly the same answer for these. Should I? Should I copy and paste?

I'm applying for a postdoc in the UK, the application gives a list of 'Essential criteria' and requires that I detail "point-by-point how you meet the essential criteria". Fine so far. But I'm running into problems with a few of them. For example, one criterion is that I have experience in the "practical application of qualitative research methods including qualitative data analysis", then the next on the list is that I have experience in the "practical application of qualitative research", I really don't know how these are different! If I have experience in using qualitative research methods, then surely I have experience in doing qualitative research? Or am I missing something? It goes on. The next criterion is that I have experience in the "practical application of focus group research and qualitative data analysis". Help! Any advice on what to do here?

I have the third article. PM me your e-mail and I'll send it on to you.

I have the second article. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send it to you.

Regards

A colleague has asked me to proof read his thesis, and is willing to pay me for doing so. I have a lot of proof reading experience, and even worked as a copy editor in the past, but have lost touch with the industry since I returned to academia. My question is how much I should charge ? I know that a professional proofreading service would charge up to EUR500 for a 90,000-word thesis, I don't want to ask for this much. I was wondering if any forum members had made informal arrangements like this and how much they paid? Thanks.

You are such a great sibling to be helping him like this. Your brother is very lucky. I echo what the others say, good lighting, a comfortable desk, and some kind of foot rest. Also I wouldn't encourage the energy drinks, I think they do more harm than good, but a kettle and a selection of teas would be helpful.

I've been happily using Refworks over the course of my PhD, but I will no longer have access to it after next week, as I'm now finally finished [yay!]
So, I need to export my citations to Mendeley or Zotero, which is fine, and straightforward enough.
My problem is that I have attachments on almost all my citations (more than 700), and I was wondering is there an easy way to download all these at once? I'd prefer not to have to go into each citation and save the attachment individually.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any ideas on how to do this, I've googled but didn't find anything.

Thanks for your help. The project is in three parts, and Part 1 is now complete. I asked a senior (in fact, now retired) colleague for advice. He was shocked when I explained the design flaws, but advised that since I had made a commitment to do the work I should continue and complete Part 1. He further advised that I should then withdraw from the project, giving my reasons. I did so, and got a very rude e-mail back telling me that the problems were all on my side and to do with my lack of ability [sigh], but I am just so relieved to be done with it. I worry that some day she'll be sitting on an interview board, but I can't live my life like that.

Hello, I hope someone can give me some advice, I lurk mostly but do post the odd time. I finished my PhD a few months ago, am looking for a job now, but in the meantime have been offered some work as a research assistant by a lecturer in the university where I did my PhD. So far so good. The trouble is that the research project that I have been recruited to work on is very badly designed, really there are so many holes in it, an undergraduate would see the obvious flaws in the methodology.
Therefore, I spent a lot of time writing e-mails pointing out these problems and suggesting solutions and improvements. However I might as well be talking to the walls. The concerns that I bring up are dismissed by the lecturer (BTW I have never worked with this person before), and worse still she tells me that "the literature" says she should do it her way, yet when I have asked her for some references to "the literature" I get no response. In fact, "the literature" suggests no such thing, I know this because I read an awful lot about this area for my PhD, and really the way this project is being handled is completely unprofessional.
My question is, what should I do next? I feel like withdrawing from the project as I don't want to be associated with something that I don't feel proud of.
BUT
I don't want to make an enemy (I know that sounds over-dramatic, but I'd rather not have someone pissed off at me, also, people talk to each other, and I don't want to get a reputation for being unreliable). Also there's only a couple of weeks work involved and I really do need the money.
Any advice?

I have a pdf of the 2003 Jones, Quigney and Huws paper, if you PM me your e-mail address I can send it to you.