Academic answers heartbreaking PhD questions from Reddit - is this NORMAL?

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  • Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 45

  • @bigbluewave
    @bigbluewave Год назад +76

    I need the humanities version of this channel.

    • @ShinYaguchiSama
      @ShinYaguchiSama Год назад +10

      Don't tempt me 😂
      But there is so much overlap
      Glad to know academia is weird on both sides

    • @takiyaazrin7562
      @takiyaazrin7562 Год назад +4

      Maybe no need humanities version. I saw the difference is only equipments

    • @airborneranger-ret
      @airborneranger-ret Год назад +1

      lol

    • @neilsanghvi5229
      @neilsanghvi5229 Год назад

      @@takiyaazrin7562 The ways in which humanities and the sciences are run in terms of funding and bureaucracy are very similar, so that many things Andy says in his videos are spot on for both. But as a history D.Phil., there at least two major differences in my opinion. One is that in humanities your doctoral work is entirely your own project. No labs, no team-mates, and you are not a paid employee doing research for someone higher in the academic hierarchy. You are even more alone, especially if your supervisor is hands off. The other main difference is that the thesis is not a 30,000-50,000 word report on lab-work, but a 100,000 argument that must make a substantial and original contribution to the field. In history at least, you might start thinking that your idea of approaching a subject from a new perspective, using new methodology, or new archival material, will meet this criteria. But as you write the thesis and craft your ground-breaking arguments, the evidence tends to pull you towards more moderate or nuanced conclusions, with the result that your contribution is either less substantial, or less original then initially (and perhaps optimistically) anticipated. This means constant revisiting of old research, or the addition of new research, to squeeze out more originality. Doing so can drastically alter a single sentence or an entire chapter of the thesis, which can then change the rest of the 100,000 words Unlike the sciences, where even failed experiments are useful and can be reported in a thesis, in my field of history, only a new, original argument is worth recognising. This means that simply confirming what other historians have said by new methods, or acknowledging the limitations of your research approach does not qualify as an original contribution to the academic field. You might think you've done what it takes to be original, only to find your supervisor or examiner doesn't agree. The thesis is often turned into a monograph that sets up your academic career, putting even greater pressure on the writing up process. I can only speak of my field of modern history, perhaps others in the humanities can provide other perspectives.

    • @catcoder12
      @catcoder12 11 месяцев назад +1

      I believe academia works more or less in the same way. Atleast the politics. Correct me if I'm wrong since I am from STEM background.

  • @mmbah543
    @mmbah543 Год назад +19

    Yeah being a professor can be extremely isolating. We're forced to "hang out" (class, office hours) with students most of our days, and we're usually introverts, so we run out of social energy. Some just don't have the energy to make new friends anymore.
    Hence, a lot of professors attach to students, and vice versa for other reasons.

    • @takiyaazrin7562
      @takiyaazrin7562 Год назад +1

      PhD is a lonely journey. I cant imagine being a Professor

    • @TheodoreChin-ih7xz
      @TheodoreChin-ih7xz Год назад +1

      You can bond over your mutual alcoholism

    • @airborneranger-ret
      @airborneranger-ret 11 месяцев назад +1

      I disagree. Any professor "attaching" to students has inner issues. Maintaining your distance is part of the job. And forget facebook, etc. Only asking for trouble.

    • @demi3115
      @demi3115 4 месяца назад

      HOW are you surprised by this. How how how?

  • @tpol687
    @tpol687 Год назад +10

    This format of video is therapeutic in nature. At some point of my research career, I too, have turned to reddit with a confusing mind. This helps me a lot!

  • @monisiay
    @monisiay Год назад +3

    I really needed that video, thank you

  • @anxanks
    @anxanks Год назад +2

    I was totally ready to give this all up and go be a sheepherder in the Himalayas. PhD 4th year, with a project that goes on for two more years, is frustrating. I was reconsidering if I really had it in me to keep going and was here for some music to calm me, but instead found this. Thanks ig! (:

    • @eriksaule4636
      @eriksaule4636 Год назад +1

      > I was totally ready to give this all up and go be a sheepherder in the Himalayas.
      Ahah! Been there! Stay strong!

  • @madhusudansandeep181
    @madhusudansandeep181 Год назад +2

    Yes this is happening with me right now , I have just started writing my thesis. I do not want to do this anymore.

    • @takiyaazrin7562
      @takiyaazrin7562 Год назад

      At least your thesis is one foot at the door.

    • @demi3115
      @demi3115 4 месяца назад

      why not? writing is fun

  • @catcoder12
    @catcoder12 11 месяцев назад

    5:13 I can totallyy relate to this! I am an undergrad and most of the time I feel like how the hell did my thesis supervisor even get a PhD.

  • @Slaweniskadela
    @Slaweniskadela 10 месяцев назад

    This has been useful. Thank You!

  • @nedmerrill5705
    @nedmerrill5705 Год назад

    Rush rush rush. That's how it was for me, getting those last experiments in.

  • @Indresh2468
    @Indresh2468 Год назад

    @1:35
    I can pitch in with a different view. I joined a lab as a PhD student a few months ago and since then, a lot of PhD students have left after defending but their work has not yet been published - the newly recruited students including me are working on the 'old' projects without burdening the freshly graduates. We have a few meetings to organise the work still to be done with a lot of oversight from the supervisor.

  • @petergreis
    @petergreis Год назад +10

    I am about to start my 6 month masters thesis project…. And I just want it done as well….😂

    • @deusvult1268
      @deusvult1268 Год назад

      Oh the working part was nice, the writing part was horror.At least for me. Good luck.

    • @takiyaazrin7562
      @takiyaazrin7562 Год назад +1

      Best of luck.

    • @airborneranger-ret
      @airborneranger-ret 11 месяцев назад

      Yup :)

    • @demi3115
      @demi3115 4 месяца назад

      Enjoy! Writing is so fun

  • @Eng_Aldo-tp2hy
    @Eng_Aldo-tp2hy Год назад +1

    Thanks, great video!

  • @samhitak6216
    @samhitak6216 Год назад +2

    Hey @Andy, this evening I was sitting with my thoughts and realised how cynical I've become. I was wondering if I could ask you to make a video on the world's best (in terms of LEAST corrupt) places/ universities/ educational institutions to consider pursuing a PhD or research degree. ❤

    • @takiyaazrin7562
      @takiyaazrin7562 Год назад

      How would he know? Most of his videos talk about university systems failed the academics

  • @mattposka
    @mattposka Год назад +6

    Have you and David Cross ever been seen in the same room? 🤔

  • @johnpark1797
    @johnpark1797 Год назад +1

    11:07- It's so true, LOOL

  • @fernandocortes1187
    @fernandocortes1187 Год назад

    4:00 supervisor

  • @cesardejeronimo8184
    @cesardejeronimo8184 Год назад +7

    What anime are you watching this season Dr. Andy?

  • @PicanteLive
    @PicanteLive Год назад

    mungus threat neutralized

  • @xinesita
    @xinesita Год назад

    Shouldn't we all be searching for professional mental help? I'm not saying that feeling that our suffering is somehow relatable doesn't improve our well being, but at some point it might come across as "everybody feels that way, everybody does it, so just suck it up".

  • @sashanealand8315
    @sashanealand8315 Год назад

    is it normal to get stuck in your experiment and have no clue how to proceed?