Ok. While there have been few updates to the blog for the last few weeks, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I have just found out that my abstract was accepted to the Michicago Linguistic Anthropology conference. I personally do not know what drugs they were taking.

There’s only one sticking point… the paper doesn’t currently exist. So the next few weeks are going to be dedicated to pulling together my paper (which is also my thesis).

As such, I’m going into a “lock down mode” which means very little activity outside of class, researching and writing. However, expect a lot of Headnotes postings, as I need to work out a lot of theory quickly.

Its already week two of the final quarter. Amazingly, it’s less than ten weeks until classes end. I’m overwhelmed with work. Posts to this blog are going to get shorter and shorter. Posts to headnotes will increase in size as I’m going to be constucting part of my thesis online.

My IRB cleared. So I can actually begin human research if I can find the time.

Stupidly I’m taking a full course load and auditing two classes. However, I’m definitely getting my money’s worth. And the audited classes are helping me better situate antropological practices.

All that being said, I’m not ready to be at the point I am. And I’m in sort of a low level panic attack state. The positive side of this is it’s keeping me really alert.

For the moment, I press on. The accompanying picture is of the Harper (Undergraduate) Library on campus. Its one of the spots on campus that always reminds me of Hogwarts.

My application was rejected/deferred. For those interested attached are the following reasons and accompanying vent:

b) Recruitment: Please provide additional information on the procedures that will be used to recruit subjects for the research. Please also submit a copy of the scripts/email messages that will be used to recruit participants (as outlined in the recruitment section of the protocol) and note that the IRB generally requires that recruitment materials/scripts include any age restrictions on participation.

my original entry
After observing subjects, in environments including discussion boards and chat rooms, I will privately approach them via either e-mail or instant messenger and ask if they are interested in participating. This contact will include information on my research and an overview of IRB protections.

If they response positively, we will discuss in what form the interview will take (phone, instant messenger, e-mail). I will then send the full consent form to them and have it returned before proceeding further.

Matt’s Comments
Oy! Recruitment scripts? I mean people will have to sign their lives away if they agree. And in that document everything is painfully explained. Why the heck do I need to script out every freakin’ encounter with people? I can just see it… I’m in the flow of a dialog and then I have to announce “give me a moment while I find the exact script that I will need to say in order to ensure that I don’t damage your obviously fragile psyche.” Yeah… that’s natural.

The larger implied issue here is what constituted a dialog online? Is an email exchange a online proxy for conversation? Or is the equivalent of a mass blanketing or requests for participation in a study?

d) Data storage: Please provide additional information on data storage and coding procedures for the comments collected from chat rooms. Specifically, please indicate whether screen names or any other identifiers will be linked to the chat room comments.

Matt’s comment
The issue of Usernames is really tough. Since they are able to be linked back to e-mail addresses they’re considered identifying information. Like keeping someone’s name.

The problem is that unlike most names, people specifically choose screennames. And they have pretty significant meaning (which I’ll post more on soon). So I’m planning to analyze them as part of the study.

Still the IRB considers this a dangerous thing as someone could, in theory, get a hold of them and do “evil” things (though in this case I don’t know what constitutes evil). So I need to keep them locked down. And then if I want to use my findings, I must create pseudonyms to ensure everything is cool.

This process is going to kill me. Or make me stronger. Sadly I fear it will be the former before the latter.

Quick note… IRB’s been submitted. Hopefully it will take about a week, provided there are no snags.

The finals are taking far more time than expected. As such, I’m not going to get those pictures up just yet. Hopefully I’m be more out in front of things by tomorrow.

On a slightly different note, as the last post suggested, it turns out that a number of folks who are checking out the MAPSS (Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences here at the University of Chicago) program are coming across this blog. As I posted please feel free to ask me questions. Also, let me know if you are coming to the Campus Days event in April. I’ll be one of the tour guides for it. Plus a bunch of us are talking about putting together a “after hours” meet and greet with students at one of the local watering holes. I’ll make sure you know when and where.

Quickly though, here are a couple answers to be big questions:

1. Should I do MAPSS?
Short answer: yes
Long answer: if you are willing to work, it’s a great program. Arguably more intense than any single year of a PhD program. It will help sharpen your skills, focus your research, and hopefully get you into a better PhD program/get you more money when you go there.

2. Is MAPSS just a cash cow program?
The only people I have heard express that view are U of C undergrads. At least the MAP’ers who run in my circles are hanging and banging with the best Anthro/Psych PhD’s this school has to offer. One of my friends has already been accepting into the Anthro PhD program here at U of C. We’re on first name basis with some of the top Profs and researchers in the world. I know MAP’ers who are involved in top flight research and are co-presenting with Professors at conferences.

So no… I don’t think it’s a cash cow program. Nor do people like John and Jean Comaroff, Michael Siverstein, Susan Gal, Bertram Cohler, John Cacioppo, and many others.

3. Is U of C competitive?
Yes no maybe… can you repeat the question?

For MAPSS no. I think most of the competitiveness occurs on the undergraduate level. Don’t get me wrong, U of C is INTENSE. But all of the competition is with myself, not with my classmates.