data set

i spent a lot of time in the last two weeks 'cleaning' that data set. basically trying to figure out what text people were responding to. and adrian told me i will probably only be able to use data from the people who did at least 12 (of 14) responses - which means that a lot of data won't get used. let me say, that revelation was not welcomed after sitting for 15 hours a day sending messages. i want to use it all. i mean i knew people would drop out, stop, only fill out a few and all of that. but i thought i'd still get to use what they did at least. we'll see. maybe i can do some analyses with it all and some with that strict cut off. (i'm sort of determined to not lose all of that data, while respecting the knowledge of what i should be doing with the cut off.)

hours and hours of work just to sort out the data set - which means that it wasn't spent analyzing it. nope, that's separate and honestly incredibly overwhelming. i'm not really sure what to do. i want to analyze it and write it up and have it be complete and done and as a mark of progress to show i'm possibly getting somewhere in this degree pursuit.

instead i'm supposed to be getting more data and planning the next step. (i had hoped that by analyzing that one, i'd have an idea of where to go next). so that's sort of the opposite plan from what was in my head. and i'm trying to reconcile that and come up with more studies and it also means i have to get people to fill out surveys and that's hard. i kind of wanted a break from that (i'm still damaged/scarred from all the negative responses that comes with that experience).

but it does make sense to get people while there are people. and i do want to be able to start fresh with the new term (best time to post things online to get people as i've learned). so fine, it makes sense, but it's not what i was thinking or want. and adrian was saying i could write things up in a week or a day or something. and i think that's a definite over-estimation. i don't know because i'm not trying to do it. maybe. i suppose maybe not the first, but each will get easier. and if i do them in a row, i suppose that could turn out to be true. but i strongly feel the need to finish one now. and try to be published to then later try to get a job. and try to present. that's pressure i feel like i'm not addressing right now.
but then again, i do need more people to do my studies.