elainedispo

Posts Tagged ‘research’

Study Saturday: Rural Rewards

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 03/05/2016 at 13:33

Happy Birthday to my fellow school teacher, my Lola Rosing, who would’ve turned 106 today!

This spring☘ has challenged me in an array of ways along this countryside, which makes my work worthwhile.


Recently, we had our 🌎cultural🌏 🔖reports, and next week will be filled with résumés📑 and 💼interviews!

I aim for my students to accomplish these A’s💯 this semester:

As for yours truly, my own scholarly growth continues as I prepare my 🏐🏈🏀sport⚾️⚽️🎾 psychology presentation next month!

Southwestern Psychological Association-bound!

Movie Monday: Big and Small Screen

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Movie Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 12/07/2015 at 12:00

Tomorrow is the Big Day, as my family and take off to my Dissertation Defense!

Meanwhile, we actually caught three films on DVD during THANKSgiving weekend:

Initially, I only was interested in Aloha, mainly for the Air Force (not to mention Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone who I especially liked as Gwen Stacy from The Amazing Spider-Man, and Rachel McAdams from The Notebook that we watched on our first Movie Night with my parents as empty nesters a decade ago) ~ but I ended up sticking around with my folks for the rest to make the most out of our time together (and ended up getting hair inspiration from the other two movies ~ especially from Blake Lively as Adeline, a.k.a. Amanda and Jenny).

After I present my sports study, these are the *NEW* football flicks that I must catch that are relevant to my research:

Sports Spirit Sunday: DC is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Spirit Sunday, Sports, Sports Sunday, Sunday Fun Day, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 11/22/2015 at 12:30

Dallas CowboysDissertation Completion –> Championship!

Those are my goals for today:

  • hopeful ‘BOYS victory with Tony Romo back as quarterback ~ countdown to end of regulation (game on)
  • imperative submission of my final draft for review ~ countdown to my dissertation defense (16 more days!)

Grad Cat / Asia Felina Catalina & Stats Cat / Sweet Annie have been by my side all the way …

ANNIEversary

Mini Milestones: Feline Friday & Study Saturday

Happy ANNIE-versary♥ to her & yours truly 1 week ago!

Workout & Working Woman’s Wednesday: V is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Workout Wednesday, Yours Truly on 11/11/2015 at 22:35

Veterans * Victory * Virtue

Please join yours truly as I salute and pay tribute to

This also is a special Veterans’ Day as I passed my full faculty defense according to GOD’s perfect plan!

While our military heroes engage in rigorous physical training, with PT tests that time:

  • 1½-mi. runs
  • ### push-ups
  • ### sit-ups

I did my share of high impact activity to prepare my energy for this AM’s event …

Just like I’ve connected almonds with energy for my full marathon as an analogy for my multiple regression statistical analyses, I’ve tied in what worked for me on the days I passed my previous rounds:

Here’s my training session from yesterday to work both the lower and upper bod:

2 for Tuesday: Double Whammy beyond the Moons on my Hammy

Simultaneous Moves for 20 reps/set with body weight or light resistance (ankle or wrist wraps, dumb bells or bands)

  • Squats (legs) & Shoulder Raises (delts and traps)
  • T-Bird Dead Lifts (booty) & Rows (back)
  • Extensions 2 Ways ~ Standing (quads) & Overhead (tris)
  • Curls 2 Ways ~ Standing (hams) & Upward (bis)
  • Trunk Twist (core) Curtsy Lunges (legs)
  • Ab-duction (inner thighswaistline)

CHEERS to ALL of our service men and women in uniform who’ve

  • fought for our freedom, both in the States and overseas
  • bled for our country, earning themselves the Purple Heart
  • died for those freedoms, earning themselves the Flag

 as well as ALL of our military families who experience the sacrifice.

Thank you, GOD, the Saints and the Angels for watching over us!!!

Working Woman’s Wednesday: Dissertation Declutter

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/14/2015 at 19:00

Happy National Dessert Day!

Carrot Cake topped w/Cream Cheese & Pecans

C is for … Carrot Cake * Cream Cheese * Chopped Pecans

My peers who’ve preceded me in finishing their doctor of philosophy degrees can agree:

Cleaner and clearer are better.

That means: clean desks and clear minds

Plus clean PowerPoints to clear our minds!

Two of my esteemed classmates who graduated a few years ago and whose guidance I sought for my paper and slideshow both explicitly pointed out that I most certainly must cut back

Down to 120-140 slides, no more than 150!

As the ☼summer☼ drew to a close ~ during my most recent hurdle (that lasted four months as we entered fall term), my statistics ~ I already reached 300+ slides and reached 300+ pages of my dissertation

Yet that’s way too many to fit into a two-hour presentation (including professors‘ Q&A) ~ so I’ve reduced down to almost ½ so far!

Declutter Dissertation

This slide: an indicator that I measured a TON of stats! I ended up taking out 50+ slides last night … Shooting to eliminate more. Next issue: making sure that the fewer slides that I look less cluttered!

Just as I’ve had to minimize my clutter-bug and shutter-bug ways, I’m also de-clutteringcleaning and clearing up my PowerPoint

That way, I can advance into the next round!

Motivational Manic Monday: Series I, Round I

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Manic Monday, Motivational Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Study Saturday, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/12/2015 at 20:00
Grad Cat

♫Columbus sailed the ocean blue♪ … which are as deep & true as my Grad Cat‘s baby blues! Here, I’m bringing out those blues with my *NEW* Adam Lippes for Target sweater dress vest ~ my gray go-to playful plaid layering piece this fall!

Happy Columbus Day!

Stats Cat

Stats Cat‘s got my back on Columbus Day & always as I rock out my Anchor & Sailor Wheel earrings!

As I prepare for my committee defense, I’m connecting and comparing my upcoming dissertation presentations to playoffs for post-season sports:

  1. First Series: Committee Defense (for my team of 3 professors) — 2 Rounds anticipated
  2. Second Series: Faculty Defense (for my entire conference of professors) — 2-3+ Rounds anticipated
  3. Third and Final Championship Series: Public Dissertation Defense to become Doctor (for anybody and everybody) — last Round, a.k.a. the Final Reveal before my well-anticipated graduation

So, who is my competition, you ask?

I could say my faculty of professors, but they’re on my side to succeed, so I’ll have to go with myself on my level of resilience to determine whether I stay and sustain through the game: Yours Truly vs. Yours Truly

I got this! Bring on the determination and confidence!! No thanks to the fear and discouragement!!!

Also, my good family friend, fellow devout Catholic, my ♥Tita Lydia♥ pointed out to me this:

My Doctoral Degree is my Vocation

Study Saturday: Prime Time Wisdom

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/03/2015 at 08:00

Advice / Anecdotes (like the Alliteration?) from Fall TV

Home Reno

Grey’s Anatomy revolves around Dr. Meredith Grey (center), here with her ½-sister from her late mom, Dr. Ellis Grey’s side, Dr. Margaret Pierce, a.k.a. “Maggie” (to her right/viewer’s left) & sister-in-law from her late husband, Dr. Derek Shepherd, a.k.a. “McDreamy‘s” side, Dr. Amelia Shepherd (to her left/viewer’s right) after they demolished a wall ~ as my doc friendturned published author says, we “build out of bricks,” so here these 3 are, starting over from scratch. #HomeReno #DISPObustAFlow Rando Info: Doesn’t the actress who plays Maggie look like the Special K commercial chick in lumberjack (red and black) plaid on a bus? | Courtesy ABC

Grey’s Anatomy on Leadership

Be worthy of being believed in, of being looked up to.

Dr. Edwards to “the other” Dr. Shepherd* (Feb. 26, 2015)

You have to lead.

~ Dr. Harmon to “the other” Dr. Shepherd* (Feb. 26, 2015)

Being a leader isn’t about whether they’ll listen to you, it’s whether they believe in you.

former Chief Dr. Richard Webber to new Chief Dr. Miranda Bailey (Oct. 1, 2015)

I call this GA 360 because this is relevant to followers and leaders alike:

  • Mentors, in the resident’s case of following the attendings
  • Speakers, in my college public speaking students‘ case
  • Leaders, as I’ve studied for my Doctor of Philosophy

Confidence

“There’s a scientific study that shows that if you stand in superhero pose for just five minutes before a job interview or a big presentation or a really hard task, you will not only feel confident, but you will perform measurably better.

~ *Dr. Amelia Shepherd to Dr. Edwards on Grey’s (March 5, 2015)

From Big Bang Theory {next three examples}

Dr. Leonard: “I’m a little nervous” (about approaching George Lucas at Skywalker Ranch).

Dr. Sheldon Cooper: “Get over it. Confidence is key in these situations.”

Empathy

It’s an evolutionary advantage to be included in things.” [as I teach about affection being a basic interpersonal/social need]

Dr. Amy [played by real-life Ph.D. and the Blossom star from 2½ decades ago] about feeling left out to empathize with bf Sheldon

Alliteration and Assonance

You are the King Kong of Ping Pong. You are the Menace of Table Tennis … You said you played Badminton? More like Sadminton!

Dr. Howard to Dr. Raj

Progress

You know why you’re acting this way? You’re so close! I’ve been there … When you’re about to make a breakthrough. Keep going. Don’t stop.

Dr. Derek Shepherd to Dr. Caliet (wannabe mistress) on GA (March 26, 2015)

^– I most certainly must heed this as I approach my finish line! –^ 

Side chart note: Without McDreamy and McSteamy in the mix at Seattle Grace (now Grey-Sloan ~ bad-to-the-bone), it’s “Attending Poser” / *NEW* *HOT* Intern who I’ll chase [not really — just making time to rhyme as always all days]! #DISPObustAFlow 

Study Saturday: Conscientiousness

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Study Saturday, Technology, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 09/26/2015 at 08:00

During this week’s conference call with my dissertation chair, she called me

conscientious.

I not only accepted this ~ to ♥heart♥ and absolutely at face value ~ as the best compliment from her (when we were discussing the running and re-running of my statistics for my research results) but also am ensuring that I live up to this standard.

St. Joseph the Worker

St. Joseph the Worker †prayer† that contains the word conscientiously from my Doctor of Philosophy friend who I idolize

When my cohort members and I were admitted into our doctoral programconscientiousness* happened to be one of the personality traits for which we tested and that we studied in our leadership theories literature. It comes from the (1b) Big Five psychometric assessment that uses the “OCEAN” acronym:

  • Openness (or Originality)
  • *Conscientiousness (or Consolidation)
  • Extroverion ~ I’ve also consistently tested high for this in the (2) Myers-Briggs (as an ENFJ for Extraversion • Intuition • Feeling • Judging) both when I took it as a psych minor for my undergrad and again in doc school
  • Agreeableness (or Accommodation)
  • Neuroticism (or Emotional Instability) ~ the reverse of this attribute as leaders and doc students is ideal to deal

According to the (1a) instrument provided by my doctoral degree program, someone who is conscientious is “achievement”-oriented and “self-disciplined” ~ so this implies that conscientiousness involves intentions (definitely something for which I strive).

Currently, my conscientiousness has stuck with me through school ~ as both a scholar and an educator!

Grey's Cat

Throwback: Some timing that Grey’s Anatomy premiered its 12th season this week ~ I actually reported on it during my 1st year of doc coursework (my Grad Cat is the #PhotoBomb #BombDotCom shortly before baby sis Stat Cat‘s birth Annie-versary) ~ this is an example of a presentation aid that I just covered with my speech students

This past week, I taught my students about literary terms, so I tied them into ♪music♫ and pop culture:

Asyndeton in ♫George Strait‘s ♪The Chair♪

Irony in ♫Alanis Morissette‘s ♪Ironic♪

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Jeremy Lin‘s How to Fit in the NBA

Personification plus Alliteration and Assonance in Funny Face that featured Audrey Hepburn!

If it (Quality magazine) won’t speak to me, it won’t speak to them.

~ Ms. Prescott, Editor-in-Chief

D for

  • Down * Dreary * Dull * Depressing * Dismal andDeadly

Banish the Black Burn the Blue * Bury the Beige

  • Think pink * Red is dead * Blue is through * Green‘s obscene * Brown’s too boo

Now I know that my advisor wasn’t trying to flatter me, but her acknowledgment meant encouragement … of the ♥heart.

I challenge you fellow servants and leaders to consider which personality traits that you have in order to enhance your strengths and improve from your weaknesses!

Site Sources

  1. Big Five/OCEANhttp://ipip.ori.org/ and http://oaks.nvg.org/big-five.html
  2. Myers-Briggshttp://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/

Another Reference (when I minored in psychology)

Oldham, J. M., & Morris, L. B. (1995). The new personality self-portrait: Why you think, work, love, and act the way you do. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

Addendum

After I helped lead my †Church† in prayer at Vigil Mass, Fr. Bob, our Pastor, greeted me as “Soon-to-be Dr. Dispo” ~ to which I replied, “GOD-willing,” and “to glorify GOD.”

Happy Belated Birthday to our Fr. Kumar, our Parochial Vicar!

1st Friday of Fall Y’all: TGIF

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Feline Friday, Fitness Friday, Floral Friday, Foodie Friday, Foto Friday, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 09/25/2015 at 20:45

Thank GOD It’s Fall!

Moon Rise

Facing east for the moon rise from my backyard garden … Just another West Texas Friday night!

As much as ☼summer☼ is my favorite season (after all, that’s when my birthday takes place), I’m making the most out of autumn ~ especially going outside for crisp, fresh air!

I’m also all about Starbucks seasonal flavors* ~ from ☼summer’s fruitiness to these comfy delights:

Salted Caramel Mocha Frap

My latest Starbucks Gold Card reward redeemed: Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino!

Starbucks Cold Cup

My venti cold cup always comes in handy … for a discount & a drink to last me all ☼day!

Toasted Graham Frap

Apparently, I was my local barista’s 1st customer to order a Toasted Graham Frappuccino! #StarbucksLovers ♥ #trendsetter

Furthermore, football has kicked off into full swing!

Refreshments Reinforcements

I refreshed my ♥heart♥ & ☼soul☼ with ♥Adoration♥ †Chapel† holy hour at †Church† & with this ☼spirit☼ book + my bod with this Graham Goodness! (Even though I’ll cover up more, I’ll definitely still tone up with whatever energy I still can muster in the midst of working on my dissertation!

Here are a few of my favorite things for fall …

Howl-o-ween Hype

Trunk or Treat: ☼Sunshine☼ (my truck) tailgate was decked out with festive decor that featured ♥A&A♥ when we gave candy to my †Church† students last Howl-o-ween!

Nine Fine Fall Flaves

1. Favorite Candle: my Bath & Body WorksSalty Caramel that I used to light up my *Dallas Cowboys* jack-o-lantern and Advent †cross† (I’m also all about BBW‘s Pumpkin Pecan Waffles/White Barn‘s Thanksgiving Morning)
2. Favorite Lip Color: toss-up between my red Ardency Inn ♥Love♥ Cat lipstick from Sephora or purple Vera Wang *Rockstar* lip gloss from ULTA (c/o my Bestie Evie)
3. Favorite Drink: please view above {Exhibits B-E}
4. Favorite Blush: the ones from my KleanKolor Double Rainbow palette, plus I think that I’ll try Dulce Candy‘s tip on lip colors in a pill box for cheek colors!
5. Favorite Clothing Item: my birthday gifts ~ specifically the scarf/shawl ~ and my recent online finds plus my Target scores ~ particularly the jeans and booties!
6. Favorite Fall Movie: no new releases, so I’ll go with classic football flicks: Varsity Blues (came out my sr. yr.), Friday Night Lights (with a cameo of my h.s.), Remember the TitansAny Given SundayThe Longest Yard (including the original)
7. Favorite Fall Show: Grey’s ♥Anatomy!!! I’ve been counting down for the Season 12 premiere since the Season 11 finale ~ as a loyal fan for over a decade since the very beginning with the previous seasons on DVD
8. Favorite Thanksgiving Food: I’m not going to lie –> my Cranberry Pie #DISPObustAFlow
9. Favorite Halloween Costume: now how about I have y’all pick? My personal faves include when I rocked out my abs live, No. 5 … I won our contest in 2013 as Lone Ranger‘s Tonto and in 2014 as my Nurse Mom who was fine in 1969! Will I make a 3-peat??

Actually, please allow me to add a 10th item:

My #1 Favorite for Fall: my ✌two✌ ♥cute, cuddly companions♥ with whom to softly snuggle for cozy comfort plus who keep me company while hard at work and welcome me home after hard at play!

CHEERS to this time of year!

Non-Manic Motivational Monday: Labor of Love

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Manic Monday, Motivational Monday, Pro-DiSPO, Relationships, Study Saturday, Weekly Wonders, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 09/07/2015 at 16:10
Motivator Cat

Soon-to-be Bday GrrrSweet Annie to me: ♫Baby, I’ma be your Motivation (Kelly Rowland’s ♪song)

Happy Labor Day!

Bday Blessings

Bestie Evie‘s bday advice: Start & end everyday by remembering 10 blessings!

I devoted all weekend long (including today ~ and still going) on my dissertation: my Labor of ♥Love♥ … My goal is to finish writing my draft today and prepare my defense!

Stats Blessings

I luckily found a blank page in my stats book to jot down these blessings ~ I’m guaranteed to glance at them every single day since I study it anyway!

Thank GOD I have Grad Cat & Stats Cat to keep me company as moral support!

Here’s more stats comic relief… As I analyzed more results on the relationships between my research variables, I thought about the series of three numbers that I report in terms of body measurements.

Exhibit A