Notices by yorkiebrony, page 2

yorkiebrony

@hakupony Rankings are not my cup of tea either. It's because of the Ofsted (education ranking) here that British pupils hardly learn foreign languages. And apologies if I scare you with what is happening here. It doesn't mean it like this everywhere. Maybe I just turned into a misanthrope sociologist. Another important reason I don't see a future for me in academics is because I'm a lot more at ease when I'm around the horses and ponies (I'm volunteering here with riding lessons for autistic children and children from disadvantaged backgrounds). Research projects that would have caught my eye 5 years ago aren't that appealing to me anymore. But it has been a reality check for me: academia isn't a cosy world. It's interesting, with many nice colleagues, but at the same time it's just like any other business: you also have competitors who don't like you for treading on their turf.

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony I would love to continue in anthrozoology, but also there's no funding there for research projects. If money wasn't an issue I would do the MA in anthrozoology, but in the end I need to pay the rent too. It makes me feel rather annoyed with people, society and politics...

yorkiebrony Aeniug2

@aeniug2 I used qualitative research methods like focus group interviews and classroom discussions. I also used visual methods (maps and drawings). So for me visual contact with my research participants is vital for correct interpretations of the data.

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony My university just has been elected Times Education University of the year. My Department has been awarded the highest ranking ('excellent') in all of its main disciplines in the most recent HEFCE Teaching Quality Assessements. We have a close link with ICOSS (http://sheffield.ac.uk/icoss) and we have our own research centre for childhood studies (http://www.cscy.group.shef.ac.uk). And even with this kind of reputation there's no funding available.

yorkiebrony Aeniug2

@aeniug2 During my viva my examiners asked me why I didn't arrange 1-on-1 interviews with the children. I replied I would - being a guy - never be able to get that through the ethics committee of university. The same people who cry wolf about the lack of male role models in early childhood and middle childhood are the first to point the finger at you and to slander you because they find it suspicious you (being a guy) likes to do research with children.

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony I've used some of Derrida Bourdieu, bricolage, the works of Panelli, Punch, Owain Jones, Gill Valentine.... I'm not attaching myself to one particular philosophical direction. Instead, I browse around to see what is relevant for me and what isn't.

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony The state funds research via research councils, such as the ESRC (http://www.esrc.ac.uk). Yet, with budget cuts everywhere, those councils get less funding. Moreover, social sciences are intangible: e.g. as engineer I could construct a bridge to improve traffic flow. People see the bridge being built and then see the surplus value of funding engineering research. But social sciences are like medical sciences: you work to prevent something and it's intangible. People understand that of medica but not of sociologists. I cannot prove that e.g. my research on social cohesion prevents the London riots from happening again. The only thing people see is that money is spent on something 'vague', and the government that provided tax money for such projects will be voted out. So even when researchers are paid by the state you still depend on the political will to invest in your research topics.

yorkiebrony

@mrconventrix My research focused on children's perceptions and experiences of rural areas, and thus also their ways of creating rural identities. Being in sociology I'm not really part of the educational and paedogogical aspect of the social sciences. I've done some of it (e.g. Freire's educational methods), but as sociologist I'm not allowed to say I'm a child psychologist, therapist, or social worker.

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony The system here is independent too: if you have an interesting topic you want to pursue for your PhD, your supervising professor supports you. The only hurdle to take is the university's research ethics committee. This committee only checks whether your research proposal doesn't conflict with the university's ethics guidelines; it has nothing to say about the content of your study. No, the problem I encounter here now is that nobody is willing to fund any postgraduate research careers. Even my supervising professor (who has 30+ years experience in childhood sociology, and who is one of the pioneers in that field here) cannot secure any research funding, regardless of how interesting her research is. If she cannot, than I (as starter) certainly cannot get funding. And worse, because established researchers don't get funding, there are no research assistantships available. This has nothing to do with independence of the system, but with society not willing to support academics.

yorkiebrony -

@purplephish20 Job hunting (*grumble mutters *censor BEEPS*)..... Don't know about you but it's still without success here... Either underexperienced or overqualified is not a nice position to be in. Ah well, if they need me they can find me in the stables, working on my horse handling skills for equine assisted therapy. Good luck with job hunting and the like!

yorkiebrony -

@purplephish20 Hay, indeed, I washed up ashore here. How are you?

yorkiebrony

@princesstrixie That is a good way of getting into a discipline. I have the same with anthrozoology: I find it very interesting, but whether I get a job in it yet has to be seen. Currently I am reading up on different horse training methods and equine handling skills. Also I recently completed the levels 1 & 2 of the British Horse Society's 'Horse Care & Ownership Courses'. So, it's possible to do some studying and books in your free time, then you might want to attend some conferences, do some networking and take it from there.

yorkiebrony

@princesstrixie Are you still considering the Social Sciences, or did you end up doing something else? Coming from Cultural Anthropology I arrived in Sociology, but still keeping it to qualitative research methods. I haven't done a lot in psychology, perhaps the closest to psychology I'll get is yet to come: I'm trying to get into Equine Assisted Therapy.

yorkiebrony

@comradeconventrix Officially I'm doing 'Sociological Studies' in Sheffield (http://www.sheffield.ac.uk) but because my research focused on children's perceptions and experiences of living in rural areas I usually say childhood sociology. Anyway, what is it you want to know? If I can help you... :-)

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony I don't know to what extend the public funding system plays a role. I've studied in the Netherlands and indeed having your PhD paid for by your university is a nice thing. However, it limits the number of places available, and also it doesn't guarantee a (research) job after submission of your PhD thesis....

yorkiebrony The white void

@hakupony It's a PhD in the Sociology of Childhood. When I started I knew funding for research would be an issue, but not in my wildest dreams I imagined it would be as bad as it is now....

yorkiebrony Equestria Gaming

@equestriagaming I have no idea whether there are differences between equine and bovine pain tolerance levels. In order to remove microchips you first have to find them on the body, and that's not always as easy as it sounds. Freeze-marking then cannot be erased, and it remains clear to be seen. And hot branding doesn't always give a clear identification tag. Some hot branding is done that sloppy that ponies cannot be identified from their branding mark. Taking into account the discomfort that comes with hot branding, and the availability of better alternatives I stick to my opinion that hot branding is abuse for which there is no place in the 21st-century.

yorkiebrony -

@purplephish20 Well, to start with I've already issues allowing myself to have fun. Cannot relax anymore, and thus am stressed out 24/7. And that's a mood I don't want to bring to any meet. The only times when I can bear myself is when I'm volunteering in the riding school.

yorkiebrony -

@purplephish20 Well, most likely during next month's meet I'm in the marshlands they also refer to as the Netherlands. That's why I feel bad about not having heard about last weekend's meet. Anyway, I don't know if my presence would add anything to the party mood anyway... I've not been a happy pony as of late. Hope you are doing better.

yorkiebrony Tyler Tyler & Tyler

@trister Just an example: http://forums.rainbowdash.com/index.php?topic=104.0 So it has been used. Too bad I missed last weekend's meet because I won't be able to make it next month.

yorkiebrony Yorkshire Bronies , Tyler Tyler & Tyler

!yorkshirebronies @trister With RDN you mean the network or the forum? (http://forums.rainbowdash.com/index.php) because on that forum there hasn't been a notification whatsoever... Ah well, I guess that's the price I'm paying for being one of the marginal people instead of part of the incrowd :p

yorkiebrony Yorkshire Bronies

!yorkshirebronies Can somebody else please explain to me when it was decided that meetup suggestions were taken away from RDN Forum to UKoE? Of course it wasn't a big deal for me to create an account with UKoE, but nevertheless it might be worthwhile to mention it on RDN Forum that for meetup discussions that forum apparently has been abandoned in favour of UKoE.....

yorkiebrony -

@purplephish20 Hope you all had a lot of fun in Leeds. Hopefully next time I do find out about meets before it's too late. :-p Or actually...... I cannot say whether my mood allows me to join/brighten up the party. Anyway, don't let the hangover get the worst of you all.

yorkiebrony Elscire

@elscire Perhaps I should join UK of Equestria. After all, the meet was announced there, and as far as I know it wasn't mentioned on the RDN forum

yorkiebrony Micheal Schlongcoptor

@thatonepony Perhaps I am blowing it out of proportion, but well..... looking at the antics of something like youtube and the hell and doom you can find in the small-print I thought it was worth to toss up the question here.