The Face of Supervision

1
The Face of Supervision
Supervisor
Student
Research
Culture
Context
Research Scholarship
2
What is a Thesis
a doctoral thesis is a piece of work which a
capable, well-qualified student, who is properly
supported and supervised can produce in three
years.
British Academy/CVP 1992 Para 12
3
Scholarship
Scholarship creative engagement in producing
knowledge

• Discovery new for the community
• Integration new perspectives, making new
  connections
• Application applying knowledge to problems
• - solving problems leads to
  new knowledge

Teaching developing new knowledge of learning
and understanding of teachers and students
Based on Boyer, E/L (1990) Scholarship
Reconsidered
4
Tensions in Research Supervision
Scholarship or Training? Original by student or
joint project? Independent or Team
Member? Apprentice or Employee?
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Warm, Friendly
Free
Structured
Cold, Aloof
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Effective Supervision

• Regular, scheduled task oriented meetings
• Sets tasks and monitors them
• Provides feedback on achievements
• Teaches time management
• Keeps records of student progress
• Involved in research topic

7
Criticisms of Supervisors
Too few meetings No interest in student or
topic Too little practical help Too little
direction Not returning work promptly Lack of
research experience Lack of relevant skills or
knowledge
8
Four levels of competence

• Knowing how to do research in your area
• Knowing why you are doing this project in this
  way
• 3. Knowing how to teach a student to do research
  in your area
• 4. Knowing why you are teaching this student in
  this way to do research.

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Some supervisory skills
Structuring the tutorial Questioning Listening
Responding Explaining Providing
feedback Receiving feedback Planning and
monitoring the project Preparing the student viva
10
Major interpersonal skills
Questioning, Listening, Responding, Explaining,
Encouraging, Providing feedback Advising.
Which are you good at and not so good at?
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Major tasks
Organising or helping the student or students to
organise the project Monitoring and recording
student progress Evaluating the work of
students Breaking bad news? Helping students to
write Preparing students for the examination,
including the viva.
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Seven steps in a tutorial

1. Opening moves -
2. Recap -
3. Problem area -
4. Exploration -
5. Clarification -
6. Suggested step -
7. Note of supervision made and filed

Phases 2 6 may be iterative
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What do students expect?
Professional guidance Personal support Gives
critical feedback Checks on progress Academic
guidance Provides support and encouragement Allows
student to work independently on own initiative
some of the time Helps with theories,
interpretation and writing
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Research Skills

1. Project planning
2. Time management
3. Knowledge retrieval and knowledge management
4. Analytical skills
5. Calculative skills
6. Interpretive skills

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Research Skills
14. Working as a team member 15. Interpersonal
skills 16. Working independently 17. Awareness of
environmental issues Health and Safety 18.
Ethical issues in research
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Warning Indicators

• Postponing supervisions
• Making excuses for unfinished work
• Focus on next stages not current
• work

• Filling time with other things
• Frequent changes in topic or methods
• Resisting advice or criticism

• Procrastinating on writing
• Intellectualising practical problems
• Blaming others for shortcomings

Failing to integrate earlier work
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Common Errors

• Common errors made by students doing projects
  are-
• To broad a topic for the time available
• Not considering how the data will be analysed
  before collecting it
• Not leaving enough time to collect data or read
• Not leaving enough time for writing
• A litany rather than a well constructed review
• No analysis of strengths and weaknesses of their
  own
• research
• Leaving the writing up to the end of the project

Which of the above do you need to watch out for
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Why do students fail?
Inadequate supervision Poor planning Methodology W
riting up Isolation Personal problems Cultural
adjustment
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PERSONAL PROBLEMS
Language Family Liaison Loneliness
Money Life-style Weather Food
Customs
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EXAMINING A THESIS
Some Suggestions
1. Global Impressions 2.Reflection question
formulation 3.Systematic reading with questions
in mind 4.Reflection 5.Prepare for examination
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How do Examiners read a thesis?

• The title
• The abstract
• The introductory chapter
• which should address the research problem
• The final chapter
• - which should contain an overview, reflections
• and conclusions
• The bibliography/references - which should be
  accurate
• Then the thesis in its entirety..

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AT THE EXAMINATION
Avoid being a
Proof Reader Committee man Hobby horse
rider Reminiscer
DO
Establish rapport Ask pertinent questions Look
for insight Consider the candidate too
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Departmental Errors
Over-zealous recruitment Negligence Lack of
overall plan Failure to monitor Allowing students
to postpone writing up
And your departments errors
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Departmental Checklist
Safeguards against over-zealous
recruitment Courses on methodology Help on
advanced study skills More than one source of
advice Students can gain access to specialist
expertise Special arrangements for part-time
student Regular seminars Procedures for students
dissatisfied with their supervisors Guidelines
for supervisors and students Monitoring quality
of supervisory process
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Points of Quality

• The working definition of the PhD used by a
• department
• The selection process
• Monitoring student progress
• Monitoring research supervision
• Upgrading procedures
• Procedures for terminating PhD
• Preparation for the examination
• Appointment of external examiners
• The final examination and report
• Look at the QAA code of practice..

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The Code of Practice of QAA
General principles Research environment Promotiona
l information Selection and admission of
students Enrolment and registration Information
and induction
Information and induction Approval of
projects Skills training Supervision Assessment Fe
edback, complaints and appeals Evaluation -
quality
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The mark of an educated man (person) is that he
(she) brings to each subject only that degree of
precision that is proper to the
subject. Aristotle Nichomachean Ethics