INTJ Sociologist

Dear GradCafé, Is there any resources, tips, guides or books on paper-writing that anyone of you guys would recommend? This could for example be PowerPoint slides or web pages, and includes coming up with a title, outlining, writing abstracts etc. Thanks!

Hey again, I just wanted to say thank you all for your input, and to let you know that I just went with supervisor B! Lets hope it works out well

Hi GradCafe! I am about to pick my supervisor, and I need your help (please scorn me and/or move the thread if this is the wrong category). Any input is very welcome! Here’s the situation: I am a sociologist, but the subject of the phd project is interdisciplinary towards psychology. I will likely get a secondary supervisor from an external psych dept who is a specialist in the field, so that part is largely covered. The research project will to a large degree be theoretical, but might include a smaller empirical study. I’m running out of time so I feel like I have to select my primary supervisor from the two following candidates: Candidate A: Experienced theorist with important influence. Pros: Lots of experience supervising Theory construction as main field of research Advocating increased focus on theory construction in soc sci, an ambition we share. Head of PhD studies (This means that he essentially can sign his own budget requests and research plans for my project) Cons: Not super enthusiastic about this specific project, but somewhat interested on a general level No insight into psychology Limited overlap in theoretical perspectives Not very strategic/pragmatic in terms of career opportunities, more of an idealist No experience with empirical research Candidate B: Genuinely interested and very enthusiastic younger prof with high ambitions/drive. Pros: Displays a lot of interest in both me and the proposed project – seems to see a lot of potential in it and really wants to collaborate on it, gives me space in research group meetings etc. Is highly ambitious/driven and also highly strategic/pragmatic when it comes to publication, format, approach etc. Is excellent at identifying possibilities from ideas Has some experience working at a psychology dept. Has some overlapping ambitions in terms of advocating increased collaboration, interdisciplinary research etc. Cons: Limited experience supervising (a couple of previous PhDs) Limited experience in general due to younger age (smaller network, less publications etc) Has mostly done empirical/applied research Might be stepping on A’s toes by choosing this guy? My spontaneous feeling is that A is perhaps a safer bet but B has a lot more potential, which is why I am leaning towards B at the moment. Any thoughts on this?