Supervision – the most variable of variables

1. The title is drawn from Bowen and Rudenstine (1992, 60): ‘Supervision is the most variable of all variables.’

: student perspectives

Abstract

The supervision literature often conceptualizes the supervisor as the primary person in doctoral students' progress. Yet, there is growing evidence that the supervisor is but one of many resources that students draw on. Our study takes up this idea in answering the question: What is students' experience of their supervisory relationships over time? Sixteen social science participants in two UK universities, at different points in their doctoral journeys, completed logs of a week's activities for a number of months before being interviewed. This distinct longitudinal approach provides a more nuanced understanding of students' perceptions of the supervisory relationship, specifically, varied reasons for seeking supervisory help, distinct needs related to where students were in their progress, and diverse in which they negotiated and characterized the supervisory relationship.

Keywords:

• doctoral student
• supervision
• longitudinal study

Notes

1. The title is drawn from Bowen and Rudenstine (1992, 60): ‘Supervision is the most variable of all variables.’

2. Given the changes occurring in doctoral education over the past 10–12 years, studies older than that are not cited unless particularly pertinent to the argument.

3. In the UK, in the first year, doctoral students focus on research methods courses (also possible to do as a one-year Master's) and complete a transfer or upgrade paper (examined by those not directly involved in the student's progress). Passing this exam, which sets out the parameters of their inquiry, confirms their status as doctoral candidates. The expectation is that they will complete in about three years. In some universities, there is an additional exam, confirmation, about two-thirds of the way through in which a rough draft of the final submission is examined. Traditionally, there was one supervisor only with no committee structure. Now UK Codes of Practice are leading to the expectation of co-supervision.