Coconut Water

Howdy, How detailed should a social science Masters Thesis Proposal be? I am conducting a qualitative study on which I plan to base my Masters Thesis. In my understanding, qualitative research tends to be 'inductive' (rather than deductive like in quantitative) and very participant based, very exploratory, more concerned with "how" rather than proving a hypothesis (But I do feel my study is somewhat "if" oriented anyway). I plan to adapt my pre-existing qualitative study proposal to be my Thesis proposal. But I feel the qualitative study proposal was pretty open ended, in part because of the nature of the methods, and I'm wondering how much more detailed I should try to make the Thesis. My committee already knows that I am extending out my qualitative study to my Thesis, and they are aware of my qualitative study topic. So everything seems fine there. I'm thinking that if anyone here can ask me some clarifying questions, that might help me to clarify for myself how to proceed. Sorry I can't be more specific, I'm protecting the topic. Thanks!

Totally relating to your post, educdoc. I moved (and it was only a local move!) but it took a lot out of me. All the loading and also downsizing and then moving in one single not-so-big car, with not a lot of help. I had wanted more time to prepare for my first couple of week's readings but my employer had me working until the very last minute so by the time I was free of work, I had to jump into moving sans any studying/reading. This took a few days (again, locally!!) Was far too busy to attend various welcome events around campus, but did make it to one bbq where I had some interesting conversations with a few people in a related area, and also a campus housing meeting which took far longer than it should have (I regret eating the pizza though…not really into junk food!). Had been planning to get ahead on my first week of classes but at least NOW I can focus better. And my new apartment looks less like a disaster zone now that I've been organizing here and there, but still not as nice as I want it. So far, I feel I am somewhat on time with my reading, but this feels behind schedule to me. And I might be adding a half-course. So I need to get ahead, damn my slow reading habits! Time for me to pick it up!

I thought of that too…and thinking about it again, I might just give fake notice on Monday as a week's notice, and then I will just need to take a day off before that supposed last day of work. I have been making progress on my packing and downsizing, and so if I absolutely have to, I could theoretically work til next Monday - later than I was planning to. But if they let me go, at least I tried to be professional. It's not my first choice reference but the job does look ok on paper, seemingly related to what I see myself doing after school. I interview applicants for a networking organization, and I am interested in going into a new role down the line where I work with people in a social work type of function.

To clarify on my point - this is my knowledge as applicable to California.

I think that playing with your cat everyday at least 30 minutes (or as much as possible?) will help. In the transitional period, and if you're into natural solutions, you might try "Rescue Remedy" by Dr. Bach/Bach Flower Remedies - for both you and your cat. It's an herbal liquid that comes in various forms, made for humans to help ease anxiety. When I was buying my newest bottle at Whole Foods, the cashier swore that he used it on his own pets while traveling in the car (I think they were cats but could have been dogs). He said it makes his pets sleep. For your pet, you'd want to use the spray form. So, maybe it could help your kitty calm down (or sleep) while she adjusts? I've also heard of some other herbal thing - I don't know what it's called and can't say if it works - but I'm picturing something like an air freshener that plugs into the wall, but instead of fragrance it distributes herbal cat calming stuff. Maybe you can get/make a cat wheel…you could look them up on youtube. It's like a hamster wheel, but for cats. Good for small spaces because it mounts on the wall… I used to be a pet sitter and clients were always changing. Sometimes I have these recurring bad dreams where I've forgotten to feed someones pets! But in real life and since then, I raised two kitties I found in my backyard - I was very invested in them and they're now happy and healthy. We got lucky and found their "forever home"

That's when being "let go" means you are being laid off and through no fault of the employee. In my case, if my employer sends me home, it's not being laid off - it's being fired. The reality of my boss is that they have so many employees filling the same position, one single employee doesn't matter. Which is why they can afford to fire anyone at any time, with the most noticeable difference being that a chair is empty.

Thanks Lifesaver. My feelings about my employer aside, the real problem with giving notice is the loss of control of my income because they may terminate me on their terms. But the clock is ticking, and so I may only be able to give a few days' notice, if at all. I like that this is kind of a hybrid solution. I probably won't know what I'm going to say, until I get into the manager's room and gage the vibe of him/her (another complication? Not knowing which manager is the one I have to report to that day). I guess really, I just want to be as honest as is practical… and simply need to decide what day that will be on.

It's so damn hot in LA this heat wave is dangerous. Last night was the second night I couldn't sleep. I tried the fan, a wet towel, sleeping in the downstairs living room, nothing worked until I settled on my car for the night. At least I got a few hours of sleep camping in my car with the windows slightly ajar. But we have A/C! WTF. My roommate/master tenant/lord of the house was sleeping and I didn't want to wake him and deal with the consequences. Managed to get through day but realized how depressed I was at the situation

It's been many months since I began the countdown to quit my job. It wouldn't be so dramatic if I had not lost almost all respect for my employer. In a nutshell, it is my pleasure to leave. I have only a week and a half until logistics will absolutely require me to leave the job. I was going to give a week's notice of my resignation. But based on my employer's unpredictability (and pretty unsavory ways of treating employees and others), and the fact that I need cash that I could get from working about a week longer, I am second guessing whether to give any notice at all. I usually prefer to "not burn any bridges" and so I could have work references down the road. But a coworker told me that one person gave a week's notice and they sent her home that day. But then, another person who gave a week's notice because she was moving out of the area, was allowed to stay and work that last week, ending on a positive note. I thought school was similar to the moving scenario, in that I am not quitting to find another job. But it's so hard to know how my employer will react to my giving notice, for sure. I have said that a few hundred dollars of cash I can earn now over the next week will be worth gold in my coming academic year of not working. However, there are other factors! Getting over a terrible cold with allergies, and also needing to finalize downsizing and packing up to make my local move into my grad apartment are all at play. Not to mention wanting to get ahead on my class reading. Any advice? Or perhaps stories of your own resignation for school, which do not have to be at all in the same vein as mine. P.S. The idea for this thread came from my trying to maneuver a day off work so that I could attend an optional campus-wide grad student orientation next week.

Update: Still don't know if I'm attending the optional campus-wide grad orientation. If I go, I have to miss work. My job blows but every day I can work before school is a few bucks I can use over the next academic year of not working. Cash for medical services, food, etc., maybe even something recreational. I feel like a few pre-earned dollars will be gold. Further, I am unsure if I would be calling in sick to my job to go to the optional campus-wide orientation, or if I should just quit by then - it's only a difference of a few hundred dollars at most (but dollars = gold). I feel this is complicated by the prospect that I don't know how much longer I will work if I give notice to my employer. My employer may fire me once I tell them I plan to leave for school - I could pretend to give notice but really know that it's my last day. But what if they let me continue to work for a week? Guess I then call in sick or explain I have this thing that came up unforeseen, etc. Or, I could just outright quit on a certain day..not my chosen way of doing things, but my employer is somewhat unpredictable. My Masters program is only a year long, and I feel this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy any kind of grad student opportunity there is. I do have a mandatory department orientation, so I will be going to that. But a campus wide grad orientation seems fun.

I don't officially start for another couple of weeks but I already know of reading due BY the first class - who knew? One is supposed to be an "easy read" but I need to get over trying to grasp all the details in it. The second is definitely an easy read so far. Not in a hurry for things to get harder (I've been out of school for years and don't consider myself the most efficient reader OR writer - to be honest) Being close to campus already, I took a workshop on strategic reading. It helped me realize consciously that I don't need to have a perfect grasp of all the little details. Still figuring out what works best for me, though. The workshop introduced me to text mapping. Need to learn how to balance the amount of effort I put into my readings, and get over perfectionism. A little anxious about my Qualitative class. Hoping the official syllabi for my 3 classes come out soon, the structure would help me plan...

I don't know the Boston/VA Beach job market. What is most likely to get you in the door to where you truly want to be working? (Also, does either option provide any kind of job networking opportunities after you complete your Masters?)

If you are walking a mile to save on parking, that's a mile of free exercise. Due to a series of life events and settling for less than ideal jobs, I feel I have been living like a student for years! But I figure things will be even tighter once I am official! I can relate, for sure. I do eat out occasionally, though-nothing fancy. A coworker helped me get into thrift shopping and now I'm much better at bargain clothes shopping, I get kind of mad at stores charging $15 for a T-shirt. I am now considering doing more of my laundry by hand once school starts, instead of paying for the laundry cycle!

Sorry - I realize now that I never answered your question about housing. I was looking close to campus. Actually am going into Weyburn Terrace, one of the on-campus grad apartments. Even though I was advised against it on thegradcafe, I couldn't resist. I wanted to be in walking distance of campus. My program is only a year long and I felt that this may be my last chance to get the full campus experience. I've missed it too much!

Too anxious to be bored! Even though I hate my current job and can't wait to leave it. Lotsa downsizing left to do for the tiny grad apartment, but am making progress - getting rid of lotsa extra paper weight. This week I took off from work so it's been good to have large chunks of time to prepare. And once I quit my job I will be busy moving and then will have an department orientation to attend and a BBQ that night before the first day of class. No time to be truly bored. A little apprehensive too, because of a recent annoying health issue but I think I've got a handle on it. When I'm not at work or downsizing, I read for fun, like the novel I just started, Beautiful Ruins. Am also working my way through a book on how to write for academia. Sentence structure has never been my strongpoint (or to be honest, essay writing in general), so I hope to address my weaknesses while I have time!