On a Roll this Morning...

I awoke at 3:15 this morning (yes, a Saturday morning) and the research problems were right there in my head.  So I got up to take advantage of that moment of "brilliance."  Now I need to write my null hypotheses.  

Thought the lost-socks-due-to-alien-burglary anecdote was cute (see previous post), I need a little more instruction.  Dr. S explained that a null hypothesis is:  "there is no difference between X and Y."  I found this on ehow.com - How to Write a Null Hypothesis.  

"A null hypothesis is defined as a statement of no change.  That is, a null hypothesis describes an outcome in which there is no statistical difference between the groups you are comparing [Dr. S's no difference between X and Y].  More specifically, if a null hypothesis is fulfilled, your original hypothesis is rejected."

Summarized:

1. Write the hypothesis (i.e., what I believe to be true).  Let's say my belief is the old adage:  You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
2. Turn this into a statement that indicates no difference between experimental groups:  Old dogs and younger dogs can (or can't) learn new tricks.

Entering the 21st Century

The article that Dr. Z sent me (mentioned in the previous post - "Writing Tips for PhD Students," Cochrane, U of Chicago) has this statement on the title page:

It's the 21st century - get a web page.

Because setting up this blog on Google was so simple, I looked to see if Google also hosted web pages.  It does.  sites.google.com.  So now I have a web page.

What the web page is for is a way to submit articles, papers, links, etc. to the people you're working with - especially your thesis adviser.  I won't post what that web page is as Google allows you to tighten the access permissions.  As it is just a listing of articles requested by Dr. Z (see my Back to the Research Problems post), it's not very exciting any way.  Think of it as a remote parking lot with just a couple of cars in it.

This weekend, I'll be revising parts 1 through 3 of the proposal:

• Title of Study
• Purpose of Study
• Research Problems/Questions

Work has been a zoo.  And this is supposed to be the "light" season!

Back to the Research Problems

I spoke with Dr. Z this morning.  (And yes, he speaks English quite well!)  I really think I will enjoy working with him. 

He referred me to an article entitled "Writing Tips for PhD Students" by John H. Cochrane (University of Chicago) found at this link.  It's a nice guide - written in plain language (and is somewhat light and comical).

I have two things to do:

1. Send Dr. Z the top three (or two or four) articles - published in top journals - that are the closest that I want to do.
2. Meanwhile, using the Cochrane article, revise the proposal and the main research question/problem.

We are both concluding that it will be quite difficult - if not impossible - to find the primary data around what I'd like to do.  But Dr. Z said, "First things, first."  Let's get the main research problem out there, then we'll both find what data we can find.  Just take it one day at a time.

Like I said, I really think I will enjoy working with him.  

Dr. Z!

No, Heather, that's not you (not yet, anyway).  Dr. Z is the prof that has agreed to work with me on the next version of the proposal.

I have found him on this video.  I assume he speaks English - as I certainly don't speak Portuguese - else, I'm in a heap of trouble!