Error in master's thesis, I do not know what to do [duplicate]
This question already has an answer here:
Consequences of a master thesis with errors
1 answer
I successfully defended my master's thesis last December.
I had 18/20 and it went well. However, my adviser invited me to carry out research in the area, which I accepted.
When I was writing the first paper, I noticed a big error in the data analysis. This does not affect the conclusions and the values of the estimates are very similar (with and without the error) the question is what do I do now? I'm afraid to tell my advisor and they cancel my master's degree. What do you think? My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find ..
Any suggestions? I'm sure no one will notice the error, but I do not know.
I´m very afraid of this
Thank You
publications
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
marked as duplicate by David Richerby, corey979, EnergyNumbers, David Ketcheson, Jon Custer Mar 20 at 13:34
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Consequences of a master thesis with errors
1 answer
I successfully defended my master's thesis last December.
I had 18/20 and it went well. However, my adviser invited me to carry out research in the area, which I accepted.
When I was writing the first paper, I noticed a big error in the data analysis. This does not affect the conclusions and the values of the estimates are very similar (with and without the error) the question is what do I do now? I'm afraid to tell my advisor and they cancel my master's degree. What do you think? My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find ..
Any suggestions? I'm sure no one will notice the error, but I do not know.
I´m very afraid of this
Thank You
publications
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
marked as duplicate by David Richerby, corey979, EnergyNumbers, David Ketcheson, Jon Custer Mar 20 at 13:34
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
23
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
2
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
11
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21
add a comment |
This question already has an answer here:
Consequences of a master thesis with errors
1 answer
I successfully defended my master's thesis last December.
I had 18/20 and it went well. However, my adviser invited me to carry out research in the area, which I accepted.
When I was writing the first paper, I noticed a big error in the data analysis. This does not affect the conclusions and the values of the estimates are very similar (with and without the error) the question is what do I do now? I'm afraid to tell my advisor and they cancel my master's degree. What do you think? My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find ..
Any suggestions? I'm sure no one will notice the error, but I do not know.
I´m very afraid of this
Thank You
publications
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
This question already has an answer here:
Consequences of a master thesis with errors
1 answer
I successfully defended my master's thesis last December.
I had 18/20 and it went well. However, my adviser invited me to carry out research in the area, which I accepted.
When I was writing the first paper, I noticed a big error in the data analysis. This does not affect the conclusions and the values of the estimates are very similar (with and without the error) the question is what do I do now? I'm afraid to tell my advisor and they cancel my master's degree. What do you think? My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find ..
Any suggestions? I'm sure no one will notice the error, but I do not know.
I´m very afraid of this
Thank You
This question already has an answer here:
Consequences of a master thesis with errors
1 answer
publications
publications
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
asked Mar 18 at 19:14
alexz123456alexz123456
179123
179123
marked as duplicate by David Richerby, corey979, EnergyNumbers, David Ketcheson, Jon Custer Mar 20 at 13:34
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
marked as duplicate by David Richerby, corey979, EnergyNumbers, David Ketcheson, Jon Custer Mar 20 at 13:34
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
23
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
2
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
11
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21
add a comment |
23
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
2
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
11
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21
23
23
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
2
2
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
11
11
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Revoking an earned degree is exceedingly rare and would probably be appropriate only for serious and intentional errors such as fraud. I think you can rest easy on that.
Talk to your advisor and lay it all out. It is better that you find and reveal the errors than if someone else does. Going forward you can still publish, but it will need to be based on correct data, analysis, and interpretations.
It is common in research for errors to appear in old work. It is certainly not a unique occurrence. Attempting to conceal it would be the worst path of all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
add a comment |
You already stated that you do not plan to continue using the erroneous solution. I think this is the right decision, since using a wrong method knowingly is worse than using it by mistake. Additionally, a Master's thesis has less impact than a paper.
Can it have consequences? If the thesis already has been defended and graded, I cannot see any coming. We all make mistakes, that is no academic misconduct.
Oops I was too slow. Buffys answer says it all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just saysasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfthen patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.
– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
add a comment |
Even if your error invalidated your thesis (not the case as you stated), you still worked and researched, so nonetheless you reached some results, either false or true. This is an accomplishment by itself, even if you found your thesis to be wrong and it is still assumed that you learned valuable experience from your master's thesis.
Moreover the fact that you found and corrected a calculation error is a good sign you learned to review your work, even if it slipped out at first (and it slipped out from the people supposed to read and review it too, so don't be hard on yourself).
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
add a comment |
It is not all on you. You defended your thesis -- presumably in front of experts who know the subject matter and an advisor who read the thesis. It is unlikely that the mistake is as egregious as you fear. Otherwise, those in charge would likely have noticed. They gave an endorsement of the fundamental quality of your research efforts, and no subsequent rethinking of that research can negate that endorsement (unless you are guilty of some blatant dishonesty, which doesn't seem to be the case).
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Revoking an earned degree is exceedingly rare and would probably be appropriate only for serious and intentional errors such as fraud. I think you can rest easy on that.
Talk to your advisor and lay it all out. It is better that you find and reveal the errors than if someone else does. Going forward you can still publish, but it will need to be based on correct data, analysis, and interpretations.
It is common in research for errors to appear in old work. It is certainly not a unique occurrence. Attempting to conceal it would be the worst path of all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
add a comment |
Revoking an earned degree is exceedingly rare and would probably be appropriate only for serious and intentional errors such as fraud. I think you can rest easy on that.
Talk to your advisor and lay it all out. It is better that you find and reveal the errors than if someone else does. Going forward you can still publish, but it will need to be based on correct data, analysis, and interpretations.
It is common in research for errors to appear in old work. It is certainly not a unique occurrence. Attempting to conceal it would be the worst path of all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
add a comment |
Revoking an earned degree is exceedingly rare and would probably be appropriate only for serious and intentional errors such as fraud. I think you can rest easy on that.
Talk to your advisor and lay it all out. It is better that you find and reveal the errors than if someone else does. Going forward you can still publish, but it will need to be based on correct data, analysis, and interpretations.
It is common in research for errors to appear in old work. It is certainly not a unique occurrence. Attempting to conceal it would be the worst path of all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
Revoking an earned degree is exceedingly rare and would probably be appropriate only for serious and intentional errors such as fraud. I think you can rest easy on that.
Talk to your advisor and lay it all out. It is better that you find and reveal the errors than if someone else does. Going forward you can still publish, but it will need to be based on correct data, analysis, and interpretations.
It is common in research for errors to appear in old work. It is certainly not a unique occurrence. Attempting to conceal it would be the worst path of all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
answered Mar 18 at 19:27
BuffyBuffy
55k16175268
55k16175268
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
add a comment |
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
4
4
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
thank you I already sent an email to ask for a meeting. ´The error is very simple to explain, in the regression, I used industrial variables and made the mistake of 50 companies belonging to two industries (ie = 1 in two different industries) and this slightly changes my results (but not the conclusions). What I'm going to do is publish the paper with the corrected estimates.
– alexz123456
Mar 18 at 19:59
40
40
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
That sounds exactly right. Making an error is not fatal. Hiding an error, so you mislead others and know you are doing so would be more of a problem. Fixing it is a good idea :)
– Stilez
Mar 18 at 23:58
3
3
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
If that was the error. .... Buffy's answer would apply to something even much severe and important. @alexz123456
– Alchimista
Mar 19 at 13:26
3
3
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
Be able to acknowledge a mistake is the mark of a (good) researcher.
– CronosNull
Mar 19 at 13:35
add a comment |
You already stated that you do not plan to continue using the erroneous solution. I think this is the right decision, since using a wrong method knowingly is worse than using it by mistake. Additionally, a Master's thesis has less impact than a paper.
Can it have consequences? If the thesis already has been defended and graded, I cannot see any coming. We all make mistakes, that is no academic misconduct.
Oops I was too slow. Buffys answer says it all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just saysasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfthen patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.
– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
add a comment |
You already stated that you do not plan to continue using the erroneous solution. I think this is the right decision, since using a wrong method knowingly is worse than using it by mistake. Additionally, a Master's thesis has less impact than a paper.
Can it have consequences? If the thesis already has been defended and graded, I cannot see any coming. We all make mistakes, that is no academic misconduct.
Oops I was too slow. Buffys answer says it all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just saysasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfthen patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.
– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
add a comment |
You already stated that you do not plan to continue using the erroneous solution. I think this is the right decision, since using a wrong method knowingly is worse than using it by mistake. Additionally, a Master's thesis has less impact than a paper.
Can it have consequences? If the thesis already has been defended and graded, I cannot see any coming. We all make mistakes, that is no academic misconduct.
Oops I was too slow. Buffys answer says it all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
You already stated that you do not plan to continue using the erroneous solution. I think this is the right decision, since using a wrong method knowingly is worse than using it by mistake. Additionally, a Master's thesis has less impact than a paper.
Can it have consequences? If the thesis already has been defended and graded, I cannot see any coming. We all make mistakes, that is no academic misconduct.
Oops I was too slow. Buffys answer says it all.
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
answered Mar 18 at 19:37
carlosvalderramacarlosvalderrama
846112
846112
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just saysasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfthen patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.
– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
add a comment |
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just saysasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfthen patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.
– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
20
20
The trick is to first post an answer that just says
asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdf then patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
The trick is to first post an answer that just says
asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdf then patch it up within 4 minutes or whatever the limit is until StackExchange starts recording the edits. For a demo, see every answer on StackOverflow.– user1717828
Mar 18 at 23:47
3
3
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
@user1717828 meta.stackexchange.com/q/9731/401908 and meta.stackexchange.com/q/90756/401908 may be of interest to you, if you haven't read them yet.
– user45266
Mar 19 at 5:01
add a comment |
Even if your error invalidated your thesis (not the case as you stated), you still worked and researched, so nonetheless you reached some results, either false or true. This is an accomplishment by itself, even if you found your thesis to be wrong and it is still assumed that you learned valuable experience from your master's thesis.
Moreover the fact that you found and corrected a calculation error is a good sign you learned to review your work, even if it slipped out at first (and it slipped out from the people supposed to read and review it too, so don't be hard on yourself).
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
add a comment |
Even if your error invalidated your thesis (not the case as you stated), you still worked and researched, so nonetheless you reached some results, either false or true. This is an accomplishment by itself, even if you found your thesis to be wrong and it is still assumed that you learned valuable experience from your master's thesis.
Moreover the fact that you found and corrected a calculation error is a good sign you learned to review your work, even if it slipped out at first (and it slipped out from the people supposed to read and review it too, so don't be hard on yourself).
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
add a comment |
Even if your error invalidated your thesis (not the case as you stated), you still worked and researched, so nonetheless you reached some results, either false or true. This is an accomplishment by itself, even if you found your thesis to be wrong and it is still assumed that you learned valuable experience from your master's thesis.
Moreover the fact that you found and corrected a calculation error is a good sign you learned to review your work, even if it slipped out at first (and it slipped out from the people supposed to read and review it too, so don't be hard on yourself).
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
Even if your error invalidated your thesis (not the case as you stated), you still worked and researched, so nonetheless you reached some results, either false or true. This is an accomplishment by itself, even if you found your thesis to be wrong and it is still assumed that you learned valuable experience from your master's thesis.
Moreover the fact that you found and corrected a calculation error is a good sign you learned to review your work, even if it slipped out at first (and it slipped out from the people supposed to read and review it too, so don't be hard on yourself).
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
answered Mar 19 at 13:46
CrisCris
1813
1813
add a comment |
add a comment |
It is not all on you. You defended your thesis -- presumably in front of experts who know the subject matter and an advisor who read the thesis. It is unlikely that the mistake is as egregious as you fear. Otherwise, those in charge would likely have noticed. They gave an endorsement of the fundamental quality of your research efforts, and no subsequent rethinking of that research can negate that endorsement (unless you are guilty of some blatant dishonesty, which doesn't seem to be the case).
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
add a comment |
It is not all on you. You defended your thesis -- presumably in front of experts who know the subject matter and an advisor who read the thesis. It is unlikely that the mistake is as egregious as you fear. Otherwise, those in charge would likely have noticed. They gave an endorsement of the fundamental quality of your research efforts, and no subsequent rethinking of that research can negate that endorsement (unless you are guilty of some blatant dishonesty, which doesn't seem to be the case).
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
add a comment |
It is not all on you. You defended your thesis -- presumably in front of experts who know the subject matter and an advisor who read the thesis. It is unlikely that the mistake is as egregious as you fear. Otherwise, those in charge would likely have noticed. They gave an endorsement of the fundamental quality of your research efforts, and no subsequent rethinking of that research can negate that endorsement (unless you are guilty of some blatant dishonesty, which doesn't seem to be the case).
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
It is not all on you. You defended your thesis -- presumably in front of experts who know the subject matter and an advisor who read the thesis. It is unlikely that the mistake is as egregious as you fear. Otherwise, those in charge would likely have noticed. They gave an endorsement of the fundamental quality of your research efforts, and no subsequent rethinking of that research can negate that endorsement (unless you are guilty of some blatant dishonesty, which doesn't seem to be the case).
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
answered Mar 19 at 17:00
John ColemanJohn Coleman
1,963515
1,963515
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
add a comment |
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
1
1
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
Yup. Once they've signed on the dotted line, it's on them that they gave out a degree to someone with invalid results, not on the student.
– Valorum
Mar 20 at 8:47
add a comment |
23
Mistakes happen, we are all human. This sounds like a very minor one, particularly since it doesn't affect the thesis' conclusion. So, be honest about it - it may be difficult to acknowledge your mistakes to others, but it will cause them to respect your integrity.
– Ian Kemp
Mar 19 at 9:34
2
If it does not affect the conclusions and the values are very similar it's not a big error. It might be a flawed approach, but it's fine- most of us have some of that in our theses.
– Džuris
Mar 19 at 10:11
11
Reframe: This is awesome! You are reveling in the joy of scientific learning. It's not about being right, it's not about answering a question so that you never have to ask and answer more questions. You know you are alive because you are learning things.
– Alexis
Mar 19 at 15:20
"My ethics does not allow me to write the paper again with the error, but if correct my advisor will find .." What does that mean?
– Cedric H.
Mar 20 at 12:21