Someone made a remark about my sister’s career and it made me wonder ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Education isn’t a social science either. I know scientists thinks social science is a softer BSy category, but it doesn’t actually encompass everything else in the world...

Education is a subject, not a method. You can do educational research that is social science, even if not all educational research is. I know people who do ethnography, psychology, and/or demography of education, they are social scientists. And for better or for worse what do you think all the quantitative assessment going on in schools is attempting to do?

-a social scientist

[Anonymous]

Education is not regarded as a traditional, hard science, like Biology, Physics or Chemistry or Medicine. My husband and I are research scientists in biomedical fields (MD/ PhD), and it would never occur to us to consider Education a science, even though it uses statistics and data analysis. Lots of fields use statistics and data analysis nowadays.

Surely you knew that, OP. Why set yourself up for mockery?

And congratulations to your sister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Education is not regarded as a traditional, hard science, like Biology, Physics or Chemistry or Medicine. My husband and I are research scientists in biomedical fields (MD/ PhD), and it would never occur to us to consider Education a science, even though it uses statistics and data analysis. Lots of fields use statistics and data analysis nowadays.

Surely you knew that, OP. Why set yourself up for mockery?

And congratulations to your sister.

OP here: She has a PHD!!
She literally added new research to her niche
validity in her research is something she values

She had to know stats and both qualitative and quantitative
Methods

I don’t get why such disrespect. She worked hard!
At the core
Of her empirical research is the Scientific method
hence why she too considers herself a scientist

[Anonymous]

OP here: OK I will just say she’s a researcher in education

[Anonymous]

She is not a scientist. Not everyone with a PhD is a scientist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Education isn’t a social science either. I know scientists thinks social science is a softer BSy category, but it doesn’t actually encompass everything else in the world...

Education is a subject, not a method. You can do educational research that is social science, even if not all educational research is. I know people who do ethnography, psychology, and/or demography of education, they are social scientists. And for better or for worse what do you think all the quantitative assessment going on in schools is attempting to do?

-a social scientist

By your definition shouldn’t she be considered a scientist ?
She’s doing educational research. Her PhD is in education with a focus in literacy- early childhood

Social scientist but couldn’t I just say scientist ? What’s the big deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Education is not regarded as a traditional, hard science, like Biology, Physics or Chemistry or Medicine. My husband and I are research scientists in biomedical fields (MD/ PhD), and it would never occur to us to consider Education a science, even though it uses statistics and data analysis. Lots of fields use statistics and data analysis nowadays.

Surely you knew that, OP. Why set yourself up for mockery?

And congratulations to your sister.

OP here: She has a PHD!!
She literally added new research to her niche
validity in her research is something she values

She had to know stats and both qualitative and quantitative
Methods

I don’t get why such disrespect. She worked hard!
At the core
Of her empirical research is the Scientific method
hence why she too considers herself a scientist

PP you replied to. I was trying to be nice, but since you're asking for it -

1. A PhD can be had in any academic field, including non-scientific ones.
2. Research is always worthy and admirable, whichever field it is, whether it's science or not.
3. You are confusing researcher with scientist.
4. No one is disrespecting your sister and her achievements, and furthermore...
5. We are so glad someone has brains in the family.

[Anonymous]

Can you explain how PhD in education works? Like, was your sister's PhD free like other PhD programs or did she have to pay and take out loans to progress?

I met a PhD in human resources (or something similar) recently and she basically admitted she was just a career student and was going into HR for local gov. I have no idea why she got or needed a PhD. And I didn't want to seem rude asking her if she had to pay for her PhD.

[Anonymous]

She really isn't a scientist but a Doctor-my friend has a Phd.

Most people are idiots-hence the state of the country. Let it go and don't listen to them.

[Anonymous]

How often is this really going to come up in conversation? Do you really need to be discussing your sisters degree with strangers?

[Anonymous]

English PhDs do research. Doesn’t make them scientists.
She is not a scientist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Education isn’t a social science either. I know scientists thinks social science is a softer BSy category, but it doesn’t actually encompass everything else in the world...

Education is a subject, not a method. You can do educational research that is social science, even if not all educational research is. I know people who do ethnography, psychology, and/or demography of education, they are social scientists. And for better or for worse what do you think all the quantitative assessment going on in schools is attempting to do?

-a social scientist

By your definition shouldn’t she be considered a scientist ?
She’s doing educational research. Her PhD is in education with a focus in literacy- early childhood

Social scientist but couldn’t I just say scientist ? What’s the big deal

Of course, you can say scientist. But, people will laugh, mock you, and believe you are putting on airs. Because, the vast majority of people out there don't regard education researchers as scientists.

BTW, you can call her an astronaut if you want - but that doesn't make it so.

[Anonymous]

Why are you gushing about your sisters PhD in education?
I earned one eons ago. Really nothing to gush about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She really isn't a scientist but a Doctor-my friend has a Phd.

Most people are idiots-hence the state of the country. Let it go and don't listen to them.

Wait - you admitted that the other people were right - she's not a scientist - but then called them idiots and counseled the OP not to listen to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Education is not regarded as a traditional, hard science, like Biology, Physics or Chemistry or Medicine. My husband and I are research scientists in biomedical fields (MD/ PhD), and it would never occur to us to consider Education a science, even though it uses statistics and data analysis. Lots of fields use statistics and data analysis nowadays.

Surely you knew that, OP. Why set yourself up for mockery?

And congratulations to your sister.

OP here: She has a PHD!!
She literally added new research to her niche
validity in her research is something she values

She had to know stats and both qualitative and quantitative
Methods

I don’t get why such disrespect. She worked hard!
At the core
Of her empirical research is the Scientific method
hence why she too considers herself a scientist

PP you replied to. I was trying to be nice, but since you're asking for it -

1. A PhD can be had in any academic field, including non-scientific ones.
2. Research is always worthy and admirable, whichever field it is, whether it's science or not.
3. You are confusing researcher with scientist.
4. No one is disrespecting your sister and her achievements, and furthermore...
5. We are so glad someone has brains in the family.