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Preparing for your PhD defense can feel overwhelming. It?s one of the most important academic milestones you?ll face, and yet many students go in without a clear plan for how to approach it.
Outcome can be different from goal.
How can I start my research proposal?
Preparing for your PhD defense can feel overwhelming.
QuoteOutcome can be different from goal.If you know the inevitable outcome, any other goal is irrelevant.
Are you prepared to bet on any other outcome than the heat death of the universe? What inside knowledge do you have?
The phrase "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst" is a common idiom that suggests being optimistic about outcomes while also being prepared for potential negative consequences. This phrase is often attributed to various sources, including:Possible Origins1. *Ancient wisdom*: Similar sentiments can be found in ancient philosophies, such as Stoicism.2. *Proverbial expressions*: The phrase resembles various proverbial expressions across cultures, emphasizing prudence and preparedness.Notable Associations1. *Benjamin Franklin*: Some attribute this phrase to Benjamin Franklin, although there's no definitive proof.2. *Clich?*: The phrase has become a clich?, widely used in everyday language to convey a sense of cautious optimism.The phrase "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst" encourages a balanced approach to uncertainty, combining positivity with practical preparedness.
ChatgptA classic psychology experiment that demonstrates how people tend to conform with their peers even when they know the group is wrong is the Asch Conformity Experiment, conducted by Solomon Asch in the 1950s.The Asch Conformity Experiment (1951)Setup:A group of participants is shown a standard line and then asked to choose which of three comparison lines matches it in length.Only one participant is the actual subject; the rest are confederates (actors in on the experiment).The confederates are instructed to give the wrong answer on certain trials.Key Finding:Even when the correct answer is obvious, about 75% of participants conformed to the group at least once by giving the wrong answer.Overall, participants conformed to the incorrect group answer about one-third of the time.Significance:This experiment revealed the powerful influence of group pressure and how individuals often conform publicly, even if they privately disagree?a phenomenon known as normative social influence.Would you like a modern variation or real-world application of this phenomenon as well?
Great! Here's a modern variation and a real-world application of the Asch conformity effect:---🔬 Modern Variation: Brain Imaging and Digital ConformityStudy: Berns et al. (2005) ? Using fMRI to study conformitySetup:Participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of faces. They were shown other people's (fake) ratings and then asked to rate the faces again while undergoing fMRI brain scans.Findings:Participants often changed their ratings to match the (fake) group consensus.Brain scans showed activity in areas involved in visual perception, not just social reasoning?suggesting that group influence can actually change what people perceive, not just what they say.Significance:This shows that conformity isn?t just a social or behavioral phenomenon?it can affect our perception and cognition at a neural level.---🌍 Real-World Application: Social Media and Online ReviewsExample:On platforms like Amazon, Yelp, or Rotten Tomatoes, people often conform to popular opinions, even if their personal experience or preferences differ.Key Mechanism:If a product or movie has overwhelmingly positive reviews, new users are more likely to rate it higher?even if they didn?t enjoy it much.This is an example of informational social influence (assuming the group must be right) and normative pressure (wanting to avoid being the outlier).Real Consequence:Groupthink in digital spaces can lead to viral misinformation, herd behavior, or cancel culture, where people adopt opinions without critical thinking.---Let me know if you'd like an example in education, politics, or organizational settings too?conformity plays a big role there as well.
Sure! Here are three more real-world examples of conformity in education, politics, and organizations, each illustrating how peer or group influence can shape behavior?even when it's irrational or incorrect.---🎓 Education: Classroom Peer PressureExample:A student in class knows the correct answer to a question, but all the other students give the wrong answer. The student may go along with the group to avoid standing out or being embarrassed.Conformity Type:Normative social influence ? the desire to fit in and be accepted.Consequence:Reduced critical thinkingDiscouraged independent reasoningReinforcement of incorrect beliefs or group biases✅ Teachers can counter this by encouraging dissent, asking for anonymous answers, or promoting a culture of intellectual humility.---🗳️ Politics: Groupthink and Party LoyaltyExample:A politician or voter privately disagrees with their party?s stance on an issue but still supports it publicly to avoid backlash or being labeled a traitor.Conformity Type:Normative and informational influence ? wanting to fit in and assuming the group is better informed.Consequence:Policy stagnationPolarizationSuppression of new or moderate ideas✅ Encouraging open debates, anonymous voting, or bipartisan dialogue can reduce conformity pressure.---🏢 Organizations: Corporate GroupthinkExample:In a team meeting, a leader proposes a flawed idea. Team members may stay silent or agree, even if they have doubts, because everyone else seems on board.Conformity Type:Groupthink ? a psychological drive for consensus at the cost of realistic appraisals.Consequence:Poor decision-makingMissed risks or opportunities (e.g., NASA?s Challenger disaster)A toxic culture where dissent is punished✅ Good leaders actively solicit dissenting views and create safe spaces for disagreement.---Would you like these expanded into a presentation, infographic, or teaching material?
Yes! Here are references and sources for each of the real-world examples of conformity in education, politics, and organizations:---🎓 Education: Peer Pressure in Classrooms✅ Reference:Horn, I. S. (2005). Learning on the job: A situated account of teacher learning in high school mathematics departments. Cognition and Instruction, 23(2), 207?236.↳ Discusses how teachers and students often conform to departmental or classroom norms, even when they conflict with individual beliefs.Edelman, A., & Levine, R. (1989). Peer influence in the classroom: A brief review of the effects of group norms on academic performance and behavior.↳ Shows how classroom group norms can influence academic behavior and answer correctness.---🗳️ Politics: Groupthink and Party Conformity✅ Reference:Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of Groupthink.↳ The classic study on how political decision-making can suffer from groupthink (famously applied to Kennedy?s Bay of Pigs fiasco).Cohen, G. L. (2003). Party over policy: The dominating impact of group influence on political beliefs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(5), 808?822.↳ Found that people often shift their stance on policy issues depending on their political party?s position, not the issue?s merit.---🏢 Organizations: Corporate Groupthink✅ Reference:Whyte, G. (1998). Recasting Janis?s groupthink model: The key role of collective efficacy in decision fiascos. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 73(2-3), 185?209.↳ A deeper dive into how groupthink manifests in businesses and organizations.Turner, M. E., & Pratkanis, A. R. (1998). Twenty-five years of groupthink theory and research: Lessons from the evaluation of a theory. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 73(2-3), 105?115.NASA Challenger Disaster Case Study:Vaughan, D. (1996). The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA.↳ Documents how conformity and normalization of deviance led engineers and managers to stay silent on known shuttle flaws.---If you're building a presentation or paper, I can help format citations or gather direct quotes from these sources. Would you like that?
Please don't fill cyberspace with third-party crap.
Some of us watch the news, or even have experience of real life. Your chatbot produced nothing remotely new.
Which is why you should stick to broadcasters with a known code of verification. BBC, ITV, Reuters, Global, tend to be factually reliable even if they have a bizarre notion of "balance".
Most people think the best way to level up in tech is to learn a new language or framework.But what if the real game-changer? is learning how everything connects?In this video, we break down systems thinking?a powerful skill that helps you zoom out, map complexity, and anticipate second-order effects across software, AI, cybersecurity, and climate tech. 🌍💻You?ll learn:What systems thinking actually is (with real-world examples)Why AI, climate tech, and cybersecurity demand it now more than everHow it makes you more employable and helps you see around cornersSimple ways to build this skill (no degree required)From cascading bugs in backend systems to feedback loops in recommendation engines?tech is a system. If you can see the whole map, you?ll design smarter solutions, avoid catastrophic mistakes, and stand out from the crowd.🎯 Whether you?re an engineer, product manager, founder, or curious builder?this might be the skill that changes how you think.
Some Youtubers promote Ground News to find the balance
Episode 1: Learn how to identify the qualities that make an idea worth sharing with an audience.--This is episode 1 of the animated series, ?Public Speaking 101.? Ideas change everything ? and since language lets us share our ideas, learning how to use it well gives speakers the power to inspire people and even change how they think. This 11-episode course will teach you how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas, while mastering essential communication skills along the way.
Episode 2: Uncover your best ideas by exploring your unique experiences, interests, and perspective.--This is episode 2 of the animated series, ?Public Speaking 101.? Ideas change everything ? and since language lets us share our ideas, learning how to use it well gives speakers the power to inspire people and even change how they think. This 11-episode course will teach you how to identify, develop, and share your best ideas, while mastering essential communication skills along the way.
Here's a list of my ideas so far:- the universal terminal goal. - universal moral standard based on UTG- magnetism as an electrogravity effect. - generalized polarization as the key to solve electromagnetic radiation at frequency beyond microwave. - quantization of mass and electric charge as the cause for quantization of radiation. - distinction between geometric and rotational radius in unit analysis to improve consistency in SI standard for rotational quantities. - difference between diffraction and interference of light. - a sci-fi novel series to trigger curiosity, critical thinking, and love of science and philosophy among young people.
Larry Forsley tells us the true story of the Fleischmann Pons cold fusion announcement that sent the physics community into a tailspin for the next few decades.
They collapsed the electromagnetic field when they turned off the current Amperage went to 0 and voltage went to infinity. This used to make electric substations blow up until Charles Proteus Steinmetz discovered electromagnetic hysteresis.
But I thought the calorimeter blow up when the power was turned back on.
Today I have a few words about some well-known and maybe not-so well known problems with scientific research and what others have said about this.
?It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.?Journalist Upton Saintclair in 1934. It turns out that that scientist are not totally above the rest of human vices.
There is also what I call the ?research inertia? when a popular field quickly becomes saturated, researchers collectively drift into a new area that?s similar to the old trend but less relevant. For example, topological insulators giving rise to topological photonics, or graphene morphing into all kinds of other 2D materials.One big reason is funding: it?s very hard to get a grant that doesn?t fit a coherent ?story? with a research group?s past work (and yes, they literally call it a story). This forces the entire field to evolve together, but often at the cost of the original motivation. The strategy also works well because there is a large pool of prominent scientists which keep citing each other. Researchers don?t really have other choice though. It's very hard to make a big jump.
Why Critical Thinking Is Disappearing | The Rise of Collective StupidityIn a world overflowing with opinions, algorithms, and noise ? why is clear thinking vanishing?This video uncovers the uncomfortable truth behind the disappearance of critical thinking and the rise of what philosophers now call collective stupidity ? a condition where we stop questioning, start conforming, and lose our capacity for truth without even realizing it.💡 In this deep dive, you'll explore:How information overload, digital media, and education systems are rewiring your brainWhy society conditions us not to think ? and who benefits from thatHow thinkers like Carl Jung, Noam Chomsky, and Daniel Kahneman warned us decades agoThe final truth: why critical thinking is not just an intellectual skill, but a spiritual actThis video isn?t meant to comfort. It?s meant to wake you up.💬 When was the last time you truly thought for yourself?Comment below. Share your mind. Be part of the quiet revolution.