What attracted you to the Master's Degree Programme in Assessment, Measurement and Evaluation?
Having a background in health economic evaluation, I was looking for opportunities to learn programming and facilitate more advanced data analysis. The Master's Programme also provides solid training in research methods based on R programming, which are applicable across various fields in social sciences.
What did you write about in your thesis?
In my thesis, I investigated inconsistent responding, a phenomenon observed among responders on mixed-worded scales. For instance, an inconsistent respondent could agree on both positively worded items such as "I feel that I have several good qualities" and negatively worded items such as "At times I think I am no good at all". I compared two competing explanations for this behavior. Is it more a lack of cognitive abilities to deal with the mixed wording? Or is it more related to personality traits such as being careless while responding? The topic is quite interesting since the use and validity of mixed-worded scales is an ongoing debate.
Where do you work now, and what is your job title?
Currently, I am a PhD candidate at Centre for Research on Equality in Education (CREATE), with an affiliation with Centre for Educational Measurement (CEMO). I started my position in mid-November 2023.
How did you find this job?
After completing the Master's Programme, I saw the announcement on Jobbnorge and thought it would be great to continue my academic journey with a PhD project affiliated with CEMO. I drafted a PhD proposal, applied for the position in July, and underwent an interview process in September.
What are your current tasks?
At this stage of my PhD, I am primarily engaged in taking PhD courses and further training in methodology. My project focuses on progressive tests for screening language skills in early childhood. I am reading extensively relevant literature and defining more detailed research directions.
How do you make use of your Master's Degree in your current position?
My Master's Degree provides me with highly relevant courses and programming skills that form the foundational framework for my PhD. The experience as a researcher assistant during the Master's Programme has equipped me with valuable research skills. Besides, I was able to test our working with potential supervisors and get a feel for whether I would enjoy conducting research in this area.
If you were to give some advice to new students in this programme, for example as regards to finding a job, what would you say?
My advice to new students would be to cast a wide net in their job search. Finding the right match between a position and one's competencies, experiences, and interests can be challenging. However, timing, luck, and many other factors also play crucial roles in the job search process. It's essential to remain optimistic and open to diverse opportunities.