<h2>"I am working on my dissertation..."</h2>

<p>Why is this a negative point? It may seem entirely natural as a lead-in, but it's a bad start. </p>

<p>We think statistically (what else did you expect?). A large fraction of questions starting like that turn out to be poor questions. Your question isn't doomed by such a start, but you should want to create a good  first impression. You won't want to lose readers because they have previously found such questions unappealing and back off immediately. </p>

<p>Why is it bad? </p>

<ul>
<li><p><strong>We don't need to know that.</strong> It is not important information. The important information is the statistical question you want to ask. Whether that question arises in coursework, in preparing a dissertation or thesis, or in working towards a report or research paper is not crucial at all. Such context is a distraction on a par with whether it's Tuesday or the weather is good where you are. Tell us about your question: what you understand and what you need to know. </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Whether you are a student doesn't make a difference.</strong> Often it creates the expectation that you are going to plead -- or at least to imply -- that you're a student in special need of support. But the forum doesn't care who you are. There isn't a queue you can jump by being needier than anyone else. We have no way of judging who needs an answer most. We just care about whether you have a good question. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>These may seem small points, even petty, but your question is jostling for attention with many others, so you should want it to look good. </p>

<p>There are ways to make this kind of question even less attractive, so we will pile on with those too. </p>

<ul>
<li><p><strong>Don't imply that you don't respect statistics.</strong> Never give the impression that you regard the statistical part of what you're doing as boring and unnecessary technical stuff, a hurdle you're obliged to jump before you can finish your degree. You may think that quietly to yourself, but special pleading that you're not really that statistically-minded won't make your question more attractive or easier to answer. You can and should be honest about your technical level, but should feel no need to apologize for it. Perhaps you never took the right courses or they were not taught in a way that helped you. Just don't convey a lack of respect for statistics. If you don't respect what we do, don't expect copious and willing help. </p></li>
<li><p><strong>Don't try emotional blackmail: it backfires.</strong> Never plead urgency, desperation, or your earnest need to finish. Don't claim a deadline tomorrow or that you've spent hours watching videos and Googling without any result except getting more frustrated and more confused. All this may be completely true, but it doesn't make a question a better question if you add layers of pleading or attempts at tweaking our heartstrings.   We've been there ourselves. We know that there are bad reasons too for being in a mess,  which we should not need to spell out. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>It should seem obvious: <strong>Just ask the statistical question clearly, concisely, and concretely.</strong> No need for personal history, special pleading, and least of all for thinly veiled emotional blackmail. </p>
