an interesting dilemma...

[ArkieDukie]

The saga continues. I had to redo the data analysis yet again because Pushy PI wasn't pleased with the answer I came up with. My boss and I came up with a very solid way to handle the data interpretation, and my final answer (obtained a couple of days ago) is somewhere between the minion's answer and the one I came up with the first time. The Pushy PI is ticked because I'm not including two pieces of data that are questionable from my perspective but give a necessary answer from their perspective. To put it in layman's terms as best I can: I know that the instrument's measurements were off from known values by a certain amount (10 ppm, let's say). I also know the standard deviation (how close together all of the measurements are). I'm including everything within 2x standard deviation from the mean, which is perfectly reasonable. Again, just to throw in some imaginary numbers, that means that I'm including everything from 2 ppm to 18 ppm from the theoretical values. Now, their data point falls at -4 ppm. My answer is that this is clearly wrong. Their answer is that I'm being too stringent and it hurts their paper. Fortunately, I THINK my boss is with me on the fact that we have no justification whatsoever for including this particular data point. In fact, I spent the majority of the day yesterday trying to find a way to include it. Every time the answer was "no."

We got to this point in the first place because The Minion has historically presented data to her boss as correct that I have told her as incorrect, and then she presents the data in our meetings with my boss as being correct. Every time I try to speak up in meetings to say this I've been shut down, and I'm sick and tired of it. The Minion had taken the two bad pieces of data to Pushy PI and told him I was being mean and wouldn't include them. Fortunately I knew what she wanted to do and came to the meeting prepared, for once. How did I know? Well, she happened to send an e-mail message to her boss and my boss (WITHOUT copying me) about some data that she wanted to show them. I happened to see it because she sent the message while working on a computer in our lab. And, since I had told her about 5X the previous day why we could include the data she wanted to include, I knew exactly what she was planning to present. So, for once, I beat her to the punch. Before The Minion could present the "good" data that I didn't want to include, I went through the justification for including what I did and showed why the "bad" data couldn't be included. Amazingly, at least in the meeting, the boss backed me. I had already gone over my side of the argument with the boss, so he knew what we were up against. That probably helped.

The issue involves an understanding of precision vs accuracy. Pushy PI and his minion are saying that the data point is good because it's so close to the theoretical value for their unknown sample. My stand is that, although this is true, we know from measurements of KNOWN samples that the instrument's accuracy was not at 0 ppm - it was at 10 ppm (precise, but not accurate). The problem is, they're treating their unknown sample as a known sample, and it's not. In my mind it's like traveling with the flow of traffic at 70 mph and saying you're only going 60 mph because that's what your broken speedometer says.

[wilson]

I know we've said this a bunch already, and I know it's cold comfort, but Arkie, it really seems that you're getting out of your current work environment at a good time. I think you'll feel a lot more comfortable about what you do and who you're working with once you arrive in a healthier place.
Another dose of vibes.

[ArkieDukie]

I know we've said this a bunch already, and I know it's cold comfort, but Arkie, it really seems that you're getting out of your current work environment at a good time. I think you'll feel a lot more comfortable about what you do and who you're working with once you arrive in a healthier place.
Another dose of vibes.

Thanks, wilson; you are correct. Truth be told, knowing that I'm out the door anyway makes it a bit easier to speak my mind. I mean, hey, what's the worst they can do, fire me? ;)

[lawgrad91]

I second what Wilson said, AD my sister, and I like your attitude. You do have much freedom to speak your mind now, since your opinions do not have to be colored by concerns about your job.

Some vibes from the House of Merlin and Sasha....

[DukePA]

Keep up the great work, AD! We're all behind you!

[ArkieDukie]

Thanks lawgrad and DukePA! I appreciate your support.

I also had the, "What's the worst they can do, fire me?" attitude after being denied tenure. When I talked to the Dean of the Faculty about meeting with the board of trustees, I actually said that to him. He told me later that he loved my comment and adopted the same attitude himself (he had retired a year earlier than planned because he couldn't get along with El Presidente), and he said the same thing when he signed the purchase order that put the college's baccalaureate ceremony over budget.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Oh Arkie! We, who don't know a thing about what you do but rely on you anyway, salute you!!!! We can only hope there are more like you out there looking out for all of us. Bless your heart ..... really ...... bless your heart!

Hope you can take a bit of time between jobs and come see us all!!!!! Good luck, hon. We're checking in and thinking about you all the time.

Love, Ima

[Very Duke Blue]

Oh Arkie! We, who don't know a thing about what you do but rely on you anyway, salute you!!!! We can only hope there are more like you out there looking out for all of us. Bless your heart ..... really ...... bless your heart!

Hope you can take a bit of time between jobs and come see us all!!!!! Good luck, hon. We're checking in and thinking about you all the time.

Love, Ima

What Ima said. Hang in Arkie!!!!!

[Lavabe]

More power to you, Arkie!!

[devildeac]

Sounds like you are handling it very well professionally even though emotionally it has been most difficult. The high road is almost always the one with the better long term view. Continued best wishes in your exit strategy and search for a more rewarding environment in which you can thrive.

[ArkieDukie]

Thanks Ima and VDB! If I get a job that allows me to stay in my current location, I plan to take a couple of weeks off before starting my new job. Depending on the timing, I'd love to take a trip back east. If a move is required, I'll need to use the break between jobs to move.

I'll be able to do this because I'm cashing out my vacation time, and I'm currently maxed out.

[ArkieDukie]

Thanks Lavabe and devildeac! I'm trying my best to stick to the high road; hopefully I'll be able to stay there. Taking the high road with dishonest people is tricky, to say the least.

[CathyCA]

AD, those people suck.

You have such integrity, and I truly admire you for sticking with the truth. At this point, why should you possibly agree with or placate these people? As you said, "What's the worst thing they can do to you?" It can't get any worse than what's already happened.

Keep shouting, "The Emperor has no clothes!" Eventually, one of those clowns may listen to you.

[wilson]

Keep shouting, "The Emperor has no clothes!"

I love this idea. Seriously, just shout exactly this as loud and often as possible.

[DukieInKansas]

Hang in there, AD. You are doing the correct thing. In the long run, you will be rewarded.

[captmojo]

Stay free enough to always maintain your own integrity.

Then, obtain a Ted Drewe's franchise to open up in NC!

[ArkieDukie]

Sounds like you are handling it very well professionally even though emotionally it has been most difficult. The high road is almost always the one with the better long term view. Continued best wishes in your exit strategy and search for a more rewarding environment in which you can thrive.

BTW, devildeac, I came out of the meeting on Friday feeling the need for a beer. I bet you have several good recommendations.

[devildeac]

Sounds like you are handling it very well professionally even though emotionally it has been most difficult. The high road is almost always the one with the better long term view. Continued best wishes in your exit strategy and search for a more rewarding environment in which you can thrive.

BTW, devildeac, I came out of the meeting on Friday feeling the need for a beer. I bet you have several good recommendations.

I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill ;) . (Is that joint still open?)

Or, Schlafly's taproom. Does such an emporium exist?

Or, does O'Fallon have a brewpub in the city?

[ArkieDukie]

This stupid manuscript is the gift that keeps on giving. My boss was working on revisions today and asked me to look up the original spectrum that was used to generate one of the figures. He wanted to see if The Minion had used observed or theoretical values in the figure. I pulled up the original spectrum to take a look and discovered that she had intentionally omitted some peaks from the spectrum (she used graphing software to generate the figure). Much of the spectrum was mislabeled as well. I spent most of the day regenerating the figure with the real data rather than manufactured data. The kicker? Back when she was generating the figure, she asked me about omitting extraneous peaks and I told her that it was data falsification. She did it anyway.

Today was our normal meeting day with these people. I printed out some of the statistical work that I did on Friday afternoon so that we could go through it. I went through it with my boss on Friday, after I finished it. He was fine with it then. Imagine my suprise when he joined with the other 2 people in bashing me on the way I had done the analysis. Yep - I was thrown under the bus again. The job search will now be gearing up in earnest.

[lawgrad91]

AD, this is terrible. and for a fast resolution to your miserable job situation, and for a place where you are appreciated and respected.

Meanwhile, since I'm sure you can't vent at work, we're here for you!