Why I LOVE SPSS Statistics :)

 

From achieving a 42% and 50% in my undergraduate Data Analysis modules, I never thought I would be saying this - SPSS statistics is a life saver. You may be sat reading this think I must be mad, SPSS is the most confusing software ever, and you dreaded every data analysis computer lab at university. But what if I told you SPSS is not all doom and gloom. Despite my lackluster undergraduate data-analysis results, I actually managed to turn this around in my masters Quantitative Stats module, receiving 83% (which ended up being my highest module mark that year! Who would have thought??).

The (somewhat) balancing act

Balancing act - appropriately defined as 'an action or activity that requires a delicate balance between different situations or requirements'. From the outside you could say my life conforms to that of a 'balancing act' - full-time PhD student, serious athlete training 5-6 times a week, working part-time in a pub/restaurant, and having just taking on a new role as a Casual Research Assistant at my university. All of this on top of social activities and having time to eat etc. I'm often asked 'how do you do it?'. And i often rhetorically ask myself this same question. Well you're all in luck boys, girls and those who identify as neither, I'm about to share my most deepest secret - how I balance my life!

Finding my PhD. Applying to my PhD. And so forth...

When I first started university in 2017 (feels like a lifetime ago) I never anticipated that five years later I would be pursuing a PhD. Never in my wildest day dreams, but here I am. Receiving the email to say I was being offered the studentship left an unbelievable feeling of accomplishment after putting in so much time and effort into finding the PhD project, preparing my application and attending my interview. Which bring me to the topic of this blog post. I am often asked, mostly by friends who are also passionate about pursuing a PhD, about the process of finding and applying for PhDs etc. because it is a bit more complex that what you would originally expect. 

My Systematic Review Struggles

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis are common terms used interchangeably in academia and research. They basically mean 'research about research' but have some important differences. As part of my PhD work I am conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis focussing on exercise for postmenopausal breast cancer patients. To describe this work as a smooth process would be a big fat lie, as I feel I have definitely underestimated the amount of workload and potential setbacks involved with this genre of research. In this post I will talk you through my review work so far and what I have learned throughout this process. 

Applying for ethical approval

 

All studies which involve people as participants need a research ethics committee (REC) review, and I as the principal investigator  (lead researcher on the study I guess?), I am responsible for seeking this review. This is where I am currently at on my research journey, perfecting documents to send to the review board. I am currently NEARLY FINISHED MY FIRST DRAFT of my ethical review form to send to my supervisors and wider EDGE team for review and feedback before I submit it EEEK! Submitting my ethics and getting ethical approval is a very significant point in my PhD timeline, as this will determine if we are allowed to go ahead with my planned studies. 

On the EDGE of glory? The EDGE Project explained!

In 2011, pop music phenomenon Lady Gaga released 'Edge of Glory' from her second studio album 'Born This Way'. When comforting her father over the imminent loss of her grandfather, Gaga said ‘Don’t be sad. He’s on the edge of the most glorious moment in life, when you realise that you won,’ and thus, 'Edge of Glory' was written. Although, this has absolutely nothing to do with my PhD, it does make me think about my research and ultimately how I'll feel when I complete it and make my mark in the world of cancer research! If you're curious to learn what my research is about then simply, read below :)