Effective Meeting in Graduate Research Student Supervision

Abstract

Abstract:Meeting with supervisor is part of the practices for any graduate research students. However, was the meeting effectively conducted? Did the meeting really helped the student to progress in their research and did the supervisor given proper guidance and advices to the student during the meeting? This article focuses on the practices on supervision especially the effective methods of conducting meeting from twelve Ph.D students studied at Manchester, United Kingdom of three major disciplines of study namely Arts, Science and Social Sciences. It reviewed the major findings of the research through in-depth interviews. The results had shown that in order to progress well in their research, they must no doubt be involved in more regular meetings or discussions process and to go through certain levels before, during and after each meeting. Those levels are very important to be implemented in order to ensure that the meetings with the supervisor have great implication to the research students. Lecturers, students and especially the foreign students should practice it in order to optimise the effectiveness of the meeting and relationship between student and supervisor.

Postgraduate Research Students’ and their Supervisors’ Attitudes towards Supervision

“…Items in the questionnaire were derived from the literature (Abiddin, 2007a;Abiddin & West, 2007a;Brown & Atkins 1988;Donald et al 1995;Easterby-Smith, et al 2002;Frischer & Larsson, 2000;Hockey, 1997;Phillips & Pugh, 2000;Sambrook, et al 2008;Wisker, 2007Wisker, , 2012, discussions with experts and colleagues within the profession, and from the researchers' personal experiences and observations. The questionnaire contained 30 items that assessed the respondents' views about PGR supervision.…”

“…A clear understanding of the role of the supervisor and student is crucial to building a healthy and productive supervisory relationship (Thompson, Kirkman, Watson, & Stewart, 2005) and successful completion of the PhD degree. Empirical literature about the characteristics of an effective PGR supervisor suggests the supervisor should be an active, competent, knowledgeable researcher who is able to analyze and enhance his or her research students' research practices as a result of personal reflection and development (Abiddin & West, 2007a;Brown & Atkins, 1988;Donald, Saroyan & Denison 1995). Others believe that aeffective PGR supervisors should have a track record of research publications demonstrating a contribution to their field of research (Frischer & Larsson, 2000;Phillips & Pugh, 2000) and ideally, a track record of supervising a large number of PhD students (Yeatman 1995).…”

Challenges of Writing Dissertations: Perceptual Differences between Students and Supervisors in a Ghanaian Polytechnic

“…Welsh (1978) reports that supervisors see their role as that of "guide, philosopher and friend" and this phrase can also be applied to the supervision of undergraduate dissertations. Abiddin and West (2007) proposed that "without good supervision from a good supervisor, difficult circumstances will arise which can affect progress". According to Mouton (2001) an effective and efficient project supervisor"s characteristics include a good track record as a scholar, experience in supervisory practices, interest in the research topic, making time for supervision and treating the student as a peer and an equal.…”

Ethical Aspects of Doctoral-Research Advising in the Emerging African Information Society

“…This discussion may also take place via telephone or e-mail exchanges (Sussex, 2011). The completion of a doctoral-research program can be tedious, requiring effective advising and adherence to standards of behavior on the part of both supervisor and supervisee (Abiddin & West, 2007). Moreover, effective advising of a doctoral project to its completion is a two-way interaction that requires professionalism, respect, collegiality, and openmindedness (Hodza, 2007(Hodza, , p. 1156.…”

“…Moreover, effective advising of a doctoral project to its completion is a two-way interaction that requires professionalism, respect, collegiality, and openmindedness (Hodza, 2007(Hodza, , p. 1156. The relationship between the supervisor and supervisee should be cordial and collaborative throughout the research project in order for the outcome to be of acceptable quality and be completed in a timely manner (Abiddin & West, 2007). Each party to the relationship (contract) must honor their part of the bargain and their respective obligations.…”