Giving thanks: the relational context of gratitude in postgraduate supervision

Abstract

Successful postgraduate supervision is often dependent upon the quality of the relationship between postgraduates and their supervisors. This article reports on two studies that focus on grateful affect and grateful expression within low‐ and high‐trust postgraduate–supervisor working relationships. In Study 1, a sample of Canadian postgraduates and supervisors was interviewed to explore the consequences of expressed gratitude and identify supervisory behaviors for which postgraduates are grateful. In Study 2, a sample of Australian postgraduates was surveyed. Results showed that perceptions of supervisors’ altruism and the perceived value of supervisors’ behaviors were positively related to the grateful affect felt by postgraduates in low‐trust working relationships. In contrast, perceptions of supervisors’ altruism and the perceived value of supervisors’ behaviors were not related to grateful affect in high‐trust working relationships. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• postgraduate students
• postgraduate supervision
• positive psychology
• relationship
• higher degree supervision

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank our participants for their insight and patience, Kristy Holmes for her research assistance, Susan Wilcox for her guidance, Linda Freeman for transcribing interviews, and the power of good conversation over pints at Club 197 (now University Arms Sheffield). Data from Study 1 were collected in partial fulfilment of Sarah Piccin‐Houle’s Master of Science in Management degree from Queen’s University. These studies were supported by a Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Business Research Grant, a Queen’s School of Business Small Research Grant, a D.I. McLeod Term Research Assistantship, and the Toller Family Research Fellowship.