Professor's interests...

[scienceisbeauty]

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There's a professor I want to work with, and his interests are close to my own. In fact, they are very much like my own. HOWEVER he has another interest that I'm afraid of ...: psychometrics.
All of his studies are focused on the interests I want to pursue, but then, even if secondary in nature, have a strong psychometics component attached to them.

I'm sure other students could do the psychometrics and I could do everything but... that, right? Or should I not even bother applying to work with him?

 

[Ollie123]

Hard to offer an opinion without knowing exactly how strong a component psychometrics is to this person's research, and exactly how afraid of it you are🙂

No one matches the interests of their faculty member 100% - in fact I'd say its bad if you do since the goal is to produce independant scientists, not clones. If psychometrics is a HEAVY component of his research and not just a side-interest, I'd be hesitant to recommend applying. Its easy to say "The other students will handle the psychometrics and I'll do the other stuff", but its never that clean-cut. You might not have to include something psychometrics-related in your master's or dissertation, but if you come across as unwilling/unable to learn something that is a large component of your advisor's research - you risk irritating him and others in the lab who feel they have to pick up the slack.

I might be biased though just because I'm in a similar situation with psychophys right now. I don't understand why anyone would apply with my advisor if they weren't interested in it, but other students seemed to have ZERO interest in it and it generally means extra work for me because I'm the only one that can look at the stuff without freaking out and shutting down.

 

[scienceisbeauty]

Sigh, I don't know...I didn't love statistics ...but I'm afraid of psychometrics because I haven't taken it before; but from what I do know...it frightens me. I think, I might sit in on a class just to get a better feel for the area.

I really really like the professor though - all the work (- the psychometrics part) really appeals to me. I don't want to be an unhappy grad student.

I don't think he'd be too thrilled if I said, I want to do everything but the psychometrics part. But then again, professors sometimes have multiple interests listed. And not each grad student likes them all... that's why I'm thinking it might not be so bad... GRRR

 

[cmuhooligan]

Regardless of your research interests, you will have to a working knowledge of psychometrics if you're in a Ph.D. program, as it's at the heart of empirical research.

 

[Ollie123]

Sigh, I don't know...I didn't love statistics ...but I'm afraid of psychometrics because I haven't taken it before; but from what I do know...it frightens me. I think, I might sit in on a class just to get a better feel for the area.

I really really like the professor though - all the work (- the psychometrics part) really appeals to me. I don't want to be an unhappy grad student.

I don't think he'd be too thrilled if I said, I want to do everything but the psychometrics part. But then again, professors sometimes have multiple interests listed. And not each grad student likes them all... that's why I'm thinking it might not be so bad... GRRR

DEFINITELY try and sit in on some classwork or get involved in some way before you decide. It probably makes a difference whether he is interested in the sense that he wants to APPLY psychometrics (i.e. develop new measures on x, y and z) or whether he is interested in "pure" psychometrics (i.e. developing new statistical models).

Really I think the deciding factor will have to be delineating if it is a component of his primary research line, or a side interest. If he just likes to make a new measure every now and then, you're probably fine. If he NEEDS new measures for his line of research, and/or is integrating psychometrics research into most of his papers....I'd stay away. Unless of course you end up liking the class🙂 Psychometrics really isn't too bad - its relatively straightforward compared to a lot of what we do, and aside from IRT (and sometimes CFA), the stats usually aren't TOO bad relative to what you can end up doing in other lines of work. Besides, its good (necessary in fact) to have at least a working knowledge in psychometrics. Not everyone needs to be able to do a CFA by hand obviously, but everyone needs to be able to understand the basics of it regardless of what direction their career is going.

 

[myelin]

There's a professor I want to work with, and his interests are close to my own. In fact, they are very much like my own. HOWEVER he has another interest that I'm afraid of ...: psychometrics.
All of his studies are focused on the interests I want to pursue, but then, even if secondary in nature, have a strong psychometics component attached to them.

I'm sure other students could do the psychometrics and I could do everything but... that, right? Or should I not even bother applying to work with him?

Quite simply, this is how I view these kinds of things. When you were a baby, you learned how to walk even though it seemed difficult. You fell down quite a few times, but eventually you stood straight up and ran all over the house. It took some time but eventually you succeeded. Now, equate this to psychometrics or any other situation in life that might seem difficult. You won't be an expert on it at the onset but eventually it will be second nature with adequate practice.

As for your question, plunge in head first! You'll be a student, not an expert. It is expected that you will tumble and fall. Your advisor and fellow students will be there to help you up. 🙂

 

[scienceisbeauty]

That's a good way of looking at it! 😛
The thing I'm wary about though, is he might ask: so what exp do you have with psychometrics, blah blah and that and I'll be like: I sat in on a class. Just for you.
And he'll say: Oh strange child go away.