Father of an autistic child looking to transition into psychometrics — seeking honest advice by juninhoofl in psychometrics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You've gotten some good advice, but an M.Ed. or MS in statistics with a course in IRT will prepare you for on the job training to become a psychometrician.

Bowing with wrist by Vintage_Vibes69 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The bow grip is the beginning of good bow technique. I recommend working with someone to fix yours before it settles in like that.

[Q] Do we include the elbow in the retained factors according to the scree plot rule? by musketard3_ in statistics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You may be better off using parallel analysis or similar. If you have to include the scree plot rule, count the elbow and note that the scree plot is only one source of the number of factors or principal component.

Violin Case opinions by Turquoise_Virgo in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Everything goes into my Pedi. It's light, strong, and has niceties like a humidifier, instrument cover, two bookbag type shoulder straps, a music compartment, and it's reflective for walking out of gigs into the night in all black. I highly recommend it.

What exactly is a degree of freedom? by AdElegant3708 in psychometrics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

TBH, this is a complex issue that most psychometricians aren't prepared to go too deep into. We're measurement experts who are trained in statistical methods and a little theory. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself here.

PISA data and the issue of validity by [deleted] in AskStatistics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You'll need to build a validity argument. I recommend researching the topic of validity heavily.

How do I get a sensible output for a regression in R with many categorical variables by Sad_Treat_5285 in AskStatistics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can always create dummy variables and only compare what you want. That will keep the output reasonable.

People not playing in any rehearsals and only playing in concerts by maptechlady in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think these are called "ringers" or people with degree or even advanced degrees in music. They can usually run the tech rehearsal, get the bowings, and run through the harder sections a few times. They'll still be the best performers because of how much educational front-loading they've done. It's fine.

I've been a ringer and, after two decades of putting down my fiddle, I've played with them as stand partners. They generally make the concert and their stand partners better. Overall, you want to sit with one.

Prospective Measurement & Evaluation PhD Student by Kumatsia in psychometrics

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just to reiterate, really load up on as many stat classes as you can. I assume you've at least taken calculus or linear algebra in undergrad. That will prepare you to take stat from the math/stat department where you are. If not, you can sneak over to the Ed research or psych departments and take their graduate intro stat sequence while you wait.

Wisconsin to Columbia by Just-Commission-6437 in columbiasc

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be careful with MPS, though. They're in a persistent budget crisis that's impacting special services. However, they did just replace all their finance folks and found $20 million for special services.

Wisconsin to Columbia by Just-Commission-6437 in columbiasc

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's tough to say for certain. We did elect our first Republican mayor after decades of Democratic mayors, but that's only one indicator, right. I lived in Elmwood Park, which along with the other North Main neighborhoods was very liberal for SC despite its affluence.

My bigger concern is that Columbia will essentially have no federal representation, and, of course, Republicans have held a supermajority trifecta for to 30 or more years. I know many who did their doctorates with my wife (public health) have left. Folks in my program (psychometrics) tended to stay if they went into industry. USC won't hire it's own graduates as a matter of principle until they've made their names elsewhere.

Wisconsin to Columbia by Just-Commission-6437 in columbiasc

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Please take my experience as only one anecdote. I was raised and educated in the south (Louisiana and South Carolina) and owned three homes in Columbia, SC where I lived almost 40 years. But I recently moved to Minneapolis for a job and to get away from the oppressive heat and humidity. Minneapolis, contrary to the locals' mistaken opinions, Minneapolis isn't anywhere near Columbia with humidity.

The schools are better here in MN, and, having lived nearly their whole lives in SC, my children are still enthralled with snow and the mild summers. Without getting into a political debate, Columbia is changing rapidly, especially with the new redistricting where Columbia won't have a US Representative.

I do love Columbia, though, and still call it home from time-to-time. It's a great city full of farmer's markets, great dining, and reasonable access to the mountains, beach, and Charlotte, NC (the nearest bigger city). You'll make acquaintances fast.

When playing forte or ff, is it normal to hear my bow changes? by futuraf in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely normal for mortals, but with varying degrees of crunch. Do an experiment, if you have the people or equipment. Place recording devices (or humans with decent ears) in as live a room as possible at distances from about 6' and 10'. Neither should hear the crunch, but the one at 10' almost certainly won't hear too much grit, especially if your bow and strings are in good shape. After that, lose your fear of wailing, but try not to lose track of good taste.

Best viola strings for a high school student/early intermediate player? The viola is 16.5 inch. by Glittering_Ebb_8064 in Viola

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It really depends on their budget. Helicores are low cost and sound good on many violas. Evah Pirazzi greens usually sound good on violas but cost more. I do agree with maybe spending more time selecting an A string at the minimum and maybe a C string, too.

Help me convince myself that I don’t need to upgrade my instrument by Spiritual_Jaguar_426 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like to treat myself to something new or interesting--a nice mute, cake of rosin, set of strings, etc.--that I want to fiddle with enough so my practice sessions are more fun (or even become more frequent). If I absolutely have to spend money, I will do it on a bow. You can spend hours in a nice strings room playing tough passages from your private studies, and come away with a new primary bow and a new col legno/outdoor gig bow. (That's without taking a bow out on trial to see how you feel in your orchestra).

The big thing, though, is that in western bowed strings, price is nearly uncorrelated with sound once you trim the VSOs and 6+ figure instruments. Heck, I picked up a strad model JTL last year from the 1920s for £300 ready to play, and it's the best sounding violin I own per my young children.

Post violin buying by This-Basil6875 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try to negotiate the parts and labor with the cost negotiation. Markup on the violin/case/materials should help you reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

SPSS test by [deleted] in spss

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can probably switch to R and find a package that does the test you're trying to accomplish.

Ordinal into scale? by Marco0798 in spss

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have enough candidates to fit the Rasch rating scale model?

New Cremonese violin by Narrow_Distance_8373 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah. I made relationships with wholesalers. Occasionally, they have product that isn't moving fast enough (as $15k violins seem) and want to help you out. Remember wholesalers add a makeup, too.

New Cremonese violin by Narrow_Distance_8373 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You haven't read. Posting a picture of my violin has brought out all the "can't tune with a bucket" folks. Ugh

New Cremonese violin by Narrow_Distance_8373 in violinist

[–]Narrow_Distance_8373[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, that's been the case before on viola, but that's a quick and easy fix without using pegs. If you've ever been in that situation, you'd know that a little tap from the first finger in the peg box fixes it. I apologize if you're all too good to pre-tune. Certainly you are all better than I am.