How to finish a Ph.D&普瑞玛法则
How to finish a Ph.D.
A few years ago I was asked by several Ph.D. students what advice I could give to finish a Ph.D. While I don't think there is only one answer I do have some principles that worked well for me- if you are a current PhD student hopefully you will find this useful also. If you have any comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear from you. Over the years I have received many positive comments from Ph.D. students from the U.S., Canada, and as far as China and Korea. Several students have linked this site form their sites. Thank you so much for your feedback. It means a lot to me that some of my thoughts made a difference to you.
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Begin with the end in mind I found it always helpful to know I what my overall goal was. During my PH.D. I aimed to finish in my Ph.D. in 3 years. I didn't make that in the end - it took 4 years - but that isn't important. The important thing is that I knew in order to make 3 years I had to do a certain course load in the first and second term , I had to take the comprehensive exam the first time it was offered, I had a rough idea of how much time I had to write the dissertation. There are road blocks along the way and things turn out different than you expect. But if you know your overall goal obstacles won't through you off the course, you are just taking a detour. ? You have no obligation to write an important or even useful thesis Sometimes students set out to write this all-encompassing break-through thesis and
then fail because they try to accomplish too much at once. Very few researchers achieve fame because of their dissertation work. Try
to write a good dissertation, not a great
dissertation. Further, don't insist on writing a useful thesis. Your primary goal is to get a Ph.D. , not to change the world. There is enough time for changing the world after your dissertation when you have less constraints about what
criteria your work has to meet.
? Write!
A psychology student told me once that he spends the entire day doing
research and then forces himself at the end of the day to summarize what he
found - even if he doesn't think he found anything that day. This is important "Matt Schonlau's Great Tips - the most detailed, honest and useful advice you can ever
find on how to finish your
PhD, written by Matt
Schonlau; he provides you
with a concise but thorough insight into all major aspects of doing and finishing your
PhD. What you have to keep in mind doing a PhD: how to focus on your goals for a
longer time, how to plan your life in accordance with your research and how not to lose track in order to finish your
PhD within a reasonable
timeframe. (2003) Start with this one!"
https://www.wendangku.net/doc/575096694.html, (accessed March 6, 2010)
for several reasons : (a) writing helps your thoughts to crystallize (b) you
accomplish your daily task which will make you feel good (c) you can track your progress (d) when you write your thesis you have material to draw on (e) you won't forget what you were thinking two weeks ago. In my opinion most students start too late putting their thoughts into words.
?Exercise regularly
I have always found I can work better when I am physically in good shape.
During stressful times such as exams, I exercise more often rather than less often. The energy I get from exercise more than compensates for the "time lost".
?Enjoy your "play time"
There is a time to work and a time to play. I try to work hard when I work, and not to think at all about work when I don't work. For example, every year I fly home to Germany for Christmas. I never take work to Germany. All that
would accomplish is that I would feel bad the whole time about not doing the work. When you have worked hard all week and can afford to take the
week-end off, try to get out and do something fun. Try not to think about work at all.
?Talk to others about your problems
After finishing his Ph.D. a social scientist at an Ivy League university told me once that at some point during his Ph.D. he had so much dissertation anxiety that he went to see a psychologist at the medical center. To his surprise the waiting room for the psychologist was packed and he recognized several other people. Everyone was there for the same reason. He later emailed one of the students he saw whether he wanted to talk about it . Within 10 minutes he got
a reply email : the other student was just as desperate to talk about it. Most
Ph.D. students at some point or another have problems - talking to fellow
students or professors almost always helps. You are not alone. (The above
mentioned student graduated smoothly and now excels working at a very
prestigious institution).
?Record your progress
Sometime during my second year of my Ph.D. I started writing down every week-end what I had accomplished during the preceeding week. I took great care in this and I often reread what I had done in the past few weeks. This
weekly ritual became very important to me and motivated me a great deal.
Sometimes in the middle of the week I would realize that I hadn't
accomplished anything to be recorded at the end of the week and I would
make sure I would get something done.
In addition, I kept a list of things to do at the white board and marked each item off once I had done it. I wouldn't erase it until a few days later though - because that gave me the satisfaction of seeing what I had accomplished
already. I still follow this habit to this day.
During a Ph.D. you often try something and it doesn't work in the end. That can be frustrating - but I feel that tracking what you have done helps to
overcome this frustration. The path to success has unexpected twists and turns in a Ph.D. - and while a failed attempt looks like no progress it really is.
?Don't find excuses - don't do too many other important things.
Some of the brightest students sometimes have trouble finishing because they are so successful doing other things that may reasonably also be considered important. A very bright young fellow I know kept taking on temporary
consulting jobs working for the UN in Brazil and all kind of other exciting and useful jobs. Working for the UN in Brazil is a great experience and you may not want to pass it up. But at some point finishing your Ph.D. outweighs
taking on extra consulting jobs.
?Choose a dissertation topic you are passionate about
You will do your best work when you work on a topic that you really care
about. This not always possible - but if you have the choice go for it. Also, it is better to come up with your own thesis topic rather than having your
supervisor find you a thesis topic. You will find it easier to care deeply about a thesis topic that you came up with yourself.
?Work on your strengths, not on your weaknesses
I was once fortunate enough to have a brunch with the famous statistician
Erich Lehman - organized by Agnes Herzberg in Kingston, Ontario. Dr.
Lehman had an unusual career and had many things to say. I will never forget the following advice he gave : when in England the professors noticed that his background in mathematics was much stronger than in physics. They therefore forced him to take extra classes in physics. On hindsight Dr. Lehman felt that that was a big mistake. He didn't have any passion for physics and he claims he wasn't good at it either - so there was an extraordinary effort going into
something that wasn't necessary.
There may be situations where our passion requires us to work on something we are not good at. For example, my friend Fiona was never interested in any handyman work. However, she was a theatre major and some point she had to know technical theatre operations. And when it was relevant to theatre, she all of the sudden took an interest in handyman work as it related to theatrical set construction.
Unless necessary though I always thought that it was good advice to work on one's strengths - because otherwise we'll be constantly disillusioned and
frustrated.
?Take charge - it's your life not your supervisor's
I have always found taking an active role leads to better results than a passive
or reactive role. It makes life more exciting. For those of us who like playing computer games - it's like the difference of playing the game and watching the game. Playing is just more fun.
?Do what is right for you - including the choice of discontinuing your Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is not for everyone and I think not to continue a Ph.D. ought to be one
of your options. I am most impressed with Judy whom I met during my time as a student. She successfully mastered the comprehensive exam, and then
decided that she wasn't really all that interested in research. I still hear her say
"You know, it's not for everyone" - not disappointed but just matter of fact.
She is happier now. However , I do think you should only quit because you
have come to the conclusion that you do not enjoy research, not because "it's
overwhelming", "it's too much work", or "I don't know whether I can do it" or
"I don't like my supervisor". People can do more than they think - they just
have to really try.
当你学不进去的时候，试试“普瑞马法则”
一般在学习和生活中，我们都可能有这样的经验，就是当说想要作某件事情的时候，但过了好久发现还是没有做；或者觉得有力气使不出来；或者总觉得生活是灰色和抑郁的，等等。这类情况反映在生活中，就是生活好像总是被一种惰性缠绕，知道那不好，但又不知道从何处入手来改变。以心理学操作性反射的原则为基础，对于人类的行为方式进行观察后，心理学家提出这样一种改进方式，以纠正惰性生活方式，并由这种惰性生活方式的结束而带来整个人生的良性改变。这也叫普瑞马法则。
你如果有兴趣坚持尝试一周以下方式，你会发现你整个人会很不同了，如果能继续坚持，那惰性生活方式就会永远不敢再接近你，而你将在人生获得你愿意的成就。先可以用一天到两天时间给自己做一个行为记录，把你通常每天要做的事情记下来，包括记录你所有的生活活动。这样，即使粗粗地记，大约也会有几十件。然后把其中一些吃饭穿衣等必须完成的事情剔除。此后，你把剩余下来的几十件事情按照你的兴趣排列，把你最不喜欢做的事情放在第一位，把你最喜欢做的事情放在最后一位。最后，你就可以在以后一周内进行行动了。
每天一早起来，从你最不喜欢的事情开始做起，并且坚持做完第一件事情，再做第二件事情……一直做到最后一件你喜欢的事情。在整个过程中，你开始会稍觉得困难，但你只要花很少的力气稍稍坚持，你就能顺利进行下去。千万在中途不要跳跃那些你不喜欢做的事情。这种方式是一种强化作用的方式———先处理困难的事情，再处理稍困难的事情，那是一种对于前面行动的强化，然后继续，强化的效果会越来越大，一直大到你觉得你有力量来完成任何事情。对于改变惰性生活方式，这种方式具有很大的效果。而对于经常有抑郁心情的人，这种生活方式将直接改变表现为抑郁的行为，而很容易地使抑郁的情绪结束，而只要坚持，抑郁的生活方式就会永远结束。通过结束惰性或抑郁的行为，而结束惰性或抑郁的心理。如果你试试，并且多一些坚持，你将发现，生活着，工作着，是多么轻松有趣的事情！当你学不进去的时候，不妨看看大脑是怎么想的？尽管科学家一个接一个的科研成果让我们对记忆有了越来越多的了解，但直到今天，科学家所发现的所谓大脑的秘密也只是冰山一角，在很大程度上，大脑和记忆仍是神秘的。研究人员认为，记忆是一个过程，并且当你记忆的时候，实际上就是你把保存在大脑中零零碎碎的信息进行重建。但让人不解的是，究竟是什么东西引发大脑开始这个重建过程？这个谜团继续等待科学家们去寻找答案，但有20个事实是已经科学家证实了的。
1.大脑喜欢色彩。平时使用高质量的有色笔或使用有色纸，颜色能帮助记忆。
2.大脑集中精力最多只有25分钟。这是对成人而言，所以学习20到30分钟后就应该休息10分钟。你可以利用这段时间做点家务，10分钟后再回来继续学习，效果会更好。
3.大脑需要休息，才能学得快，记得牢。如果你感到很累，先拿出20分钟小睡一会儿再继续学习。
4.大脑像发动机，它需要燃料。大脑是一台珍贵而复杂的机器，所以你必须给它补充“优质燃料”。垃圾食品、劣质食品、所有化学制品和防腐剂，不仅损害身体，还削弱智力。英国一项新研究显示，饮食结构影响你的智商。
5.大脑是一个电气化学活动的海洋。电和化学物质在水里能更好地流动，如果你脱水，就无法集中精力。专家建议，日常生活要多喝水，保持身体必需的水分，而且一天最好不要饮用相同的饮料，可以交换着喝矿泉水、果汁和咖啡等。另外，研究资料显示，经常性头痛和脱水有关。
6.大脑喜欢问题。当你在学习或读书过程中提出问题的时候，大脑会自动搜索答案，从而提高你的学习效率。从这个角度说，一个好的问题胜过一个答案。
7.大脑和身体有它们各自的节奏周期。一天中大脑思维最敏捷的时间有几段，如果你能在大脑功能最活跃的时候学习，就能节省很多时间，会取得很好的学习效果。
8.大脑和身体经常交流。如果身体很懒散，大脑就会认为你正在做的事情一点都不重要，大脑也就不会重视你所做的事情。所以，在学习
的时候，你应该端坐、身体稍微前倾，让大脑保持警觉。
9.气味影响大脑。香料对保持头脑清醒有一定功效。薄荷、柠檬和桂皮都值得一试。
10.大脑需要氧气。经常到户外走走，运动运动身体。
11.大脑需要空间。尽量在一个宽敞的地方学习，这对你的大脑有好处。
12.大脑喜欢整洁的空间。最近的研究显示，在一个整洁、有条有理的家庭长大的孩子在学业上的表现更好。为什么，因为接受了安排外部环境的训练后，大脑学会了组织内部知道的技巧，你的记忆力会更好。
13.压力影响记忆。当你受到压力时，体内就会产生皮质醇，它会杀死海马状突起里的脑细胞，而这种大脑侧面脑室壁上的隆起物在处理长期和短期记忆上起主要作用。因此，压力影响记忆。最好的方法就是锻炼。
14.大脑并不知道你不能做哪些事情，所以需要你告诉它。用自言自语的方式对大脑说话，但是不要提供消极信息，用积极的话代替它。
15.大脑如同肌肉。无论在哪个年龄段，大脑都是可以训练和加强的。毫无疑问，不要寻找任何借口。不要整天呆在家里无所事事，这只能使大脑老化的速度加快。专业运动员每天都要训练，才能有突出表现。所以你一定要“没事找事”，不要让大脑老闲着。
16.大脑需要重复。每一次回顾记忆间隔的时间越短，记忆的效果越好，因为多次看同一事物能加深印象，但只看一次却往往容易忘记。
17.大脑的理解速度比你的阅读速度快。用铅笔或手指辅助阅读吗？不，用眼睛。使用这种方法的时候，需要你的眼睛更快地移动。
18.大脑需要运动。站着办公效率更高。
19.大脑会归类，也会联系。如果你正在学习某种东西，不妨问问自己：它让我想起了什么？这样做能帮助你记忆，因为大脑能把你以前知道的知识和新知识联系起来。
20.大脑喜欢开玩笑。开心和学习效率成正比，心情越好，学到的知识就越多，所以，让自己快乐起来吧！！！