That's the theory that Amazon posts a batch with known answers, or incorporates known answers into a batch, through an unrelated requester account and awards masters to the top performers.
And the theory is also Amazon always gave the Masters out on Thursday, until everyone started posting the game plan in the forum. Then the developer changed it up on you, and threw you for a curve ball last night.
For the record, here's what has been shared with me: Some Monday in November, 2012 (Monday) 12/06/2012 (Thursday) 12/27/2012 (Thursday) - 21 days in between 01/04/2013 (Friday) - 8 days in between 01/17/2013 (Thursday) - 13 days in between 01/24/2013 (Thursday) - 7 days in between 02/04/2013 (Monday) - 11 days in between 02/15/2013 (Friday) - 11 days in between 03/29/2013 (Friday) - 42 days in between 04/11/2013 (Thursday) - 13 days in between 05/09/2013 (Thursday) - 28 days in between 06/15/2013 (Saturday) - 37 days in between
Masters was also given out on 02/04/2013, which is a Monday. http://mturkforum.com/showthread.php?6182-Can-t-Find-Good-HITs-2-4/page9 And my theory is that it's either random or that there are gold hits, however, the hits only flag you as being master-worthy. They then watch you for a little while to make sure. Also, the hits aren't in just one batch but spread out around multiple batches.
My theory is that it's random so there's no real reason to worry about it. I'm sure it has something to do with some specific HITs that Amazon Requester posts and if pass some magical threshold on them you become a master.
Where in the link from 2/4 do you see that someone got it that day? I'm not seeing it... Edit: Ah, searched the rest of the forum and found it on another page of that thread. Edited my list above.
I think it's random, there isn't any proof it's linked to anything. I've read about someone getting it after only 6 weeks of turking while others who have months or years of doing this and tens of thousands of approved HITs doesn't get it. Makes zero sense. You don't earn a masters, it's a gift.
I think people are emphasizing too much time on how to get the masters, instead of working. It's like chasing a cat around in a never ending loop.
The golden batch theory is more than likely the real theory, I'm currently testing another theory atm We'll see wut happens in the coming week(s)
I think masters is the most misunderstood and non-definable terms in Mturking. I never seem a good definition which will clearly define Masters. I said it is the most misunderstood term, because it is in the thought by certain workers that they could masters by some means. May be by requesting, doing some special tasks etc like that. The truth is that none knows how masters really work. That's my view.
And if Amazon wanted the issue to be known, well, don't you think everyone would already have it by now?