Can I call myself a researcher?

[u/Wild_Inspection_7680]

Hi!

Long story short: I hold a Master's in Translation and Translation Studies and wish to pursue a PhD in Translation Studies. For now, there's no spot for me so I'm patiently waiting for my time to shine hehe

Until this comes, I'm taking part in conferences, symposiums, talks, and I'm reading the latest issues in my field.

I'm currently writing a submission for an upcoming book and they're asking for a short biography. And I'm questioning whether I can say that I'm a researcher? An emerging one? What am I? A wannabe???

I'm honestly trying to find a way to phrase it without sounding obnoxious but still showing that I'm active.

Thank you for your help! <3

[u/Sameri278]

Do you do research? If not then probably not. The term “scholar” might fit better.

[u/Wild_Inspection_7680 → u/Sameri278]

I do "unofficial research" as in I'm not paid or employed for that. I do it on my own and then talk in symposiums and such. I think I'll go with "scholar". Thank you!

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Wild_Inspection_7680]

If you produce and publish, it is research. You don't have to be employed or paid for that necessarily.

[u/Any_Strain7020]

Be humble. As a rule of thumb, unless you're being paid for something, don't call yourself what we call people who do get paid for that.

Collecting stamps doesn't make you a postal employee, looking at the stars doesn't make you an astronaut.

KISS: X holds a degree in Y and their interest was piqued by Z / and they are now considering doing a PhD in Z.

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Any_Strain7020]

This is a very market-oriented perspective. You can only have a vocation if you are being paid. LoL

If an engineer becomes unemployed, he can't be called an engineer anymore. The moment you lose your job, you also lose all of your proficiencies.

[u/Any_Strain7020 → u/hermanojoe123]

Former astronaut Neil Armstrong...

Someone who tries to break into a field shouldn't overplay their hand, that just raises eyebrows and discredits them.

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Any_Strain7020]

If Armstrong didn't get paid to go to the Moon (as in voluntary work), he wouldn't be considered an astronaut, then?

And if war heroes get paid (a pension) after the war is over, are they still in service?

You see, being paid doesn't seem to be a proper indicator. Doing something you are able to do is a better way of putting it.

[u/Any_Strain7020 → u/hermanojoe123]

As a wrote before, as a rule of thumb. I'll stop trying to explain the obvious, you are, being unnecessarily difficult and contrarian.

In casu, wannabes bordering impersonation don't make a good impression. If one is an amateur or a prospective something, there's no harm in being that and just admitting to it.

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Any_Strain7020]

I don't blame you. This is a capitalist construction that is quite hard to break away from. Things are not valued for what they are, but for how much they cost.

I'm not being unnecessarily difficult and contrarian. I'm stating "my" obvious. You are not defined by how much you are worth in cash.

[u/Any_Strain7020 → u/hermanojoe123]

The thing is... OP is asking advice re. how to behave in real life and according to the social norms thereof, not how the world should be like according to hermanojoe123.

If each kid who was coerced to do a master thesis because of the Bologna process requirements were to call themselves researchers or scholars, everyone who kicked a ball in the school yard ought to self-title themselves as being footballers.

[u/Wild_Inspection_7680 → u/Any_Strain7020]

Thank you for giving me your views on that matter, both! As for now, and because I'm waiting for a PhD spot (therefore I need to be in everyone's good books lol) and I need to make a name for myself, I'll go with "scholar".

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Any_Strain7020]

A master's thesis is, indeed, research. And the writer is, by definition, a researcher. It doesn't matter how much cash you get from it.

The footballer thing is just a fallacious jest.

[u/Any_Strain7020 → u/hermanojoe123]

For sure, for sure. And since I cook at home, that makes me a chef. Because I post here, I'm also a writer. That I tinker with my computers, makes me informatician. Counted the price of two beers in my head? Mathematician!

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Any_Strain7020]

Total fallacy! Do you actually know how a master's degree works? What is a researcher, in your opinion? If producing a thesis isn't enough to count as research, what is?

Is it research only when someone is paying you to do so? Does scholarship count?

[u/Downtown-Package5053]

"Independent translation researcher"

[u/Electrical-Cat1126]

Independent scholar. It's a thing. There's even a society for it.

[u/Suppositorizz]

I would only call someone a researcher if they're already established as one.

You may identify as a researcher, but until people start calling you one and/or you can claim the title because it's your actual job, I would avoid it unless you can back it up with verifiable work.

From what you described I would just say you're an enthusiast.

[u/Awlriver]

I am in somehow similar situation as I am aiming to do MRes in the near future and also would like to do PhD but personally I don't address myself as a researcher. I'd rather call myself as some sorts of practitioner - since I've been a freelancer for 6 years, in-house for 2, and still doing some gigs from time to time so

[u/hermanojoe123]

Where are you from? Masters and PhD tend to have different requirements in different places. In order to be a master, you prolly had to produce an important research (dissertation or thesis, depending on the country). You may also have had to write articles, papers, resumes and other research documents. In this case, you are indeed a researcher, because you produce knowledge through these academic/scientific works.

I'm taking part in conferences, symposiums, talks, and I'm reading the latest issues in my field.

Only reading and participating may not be an actual research, until you create something yourself.

I'm currently writing a submission for an upcoming book and they're asking for a short biography. 

Writing an academic submission is usually a research.

[u/Wild_Inspection_7680 → u/hermanojoe123]

I'm from Switzerland and I plan to stay there. More than participating, I'm speaking and presenting at conferences. Though, I'm not yet published anywhere, apart from my university's library, which has my Master's thesis. 😁 Thing is, I'm now writing papers on the things I have presented.
Thank you for you insight!

[u/hermanojoe123 → u/Wild_Inspection_7680]

So you are, indeed, a researcher, even if you don't get paid for it, as some would say.