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Managing your Dissertation Superviser
Jason Schaub, course leaderMSc Safeguarding
Today’s workshop aims …Explore and understand roles and
responsibilities in the student-supervisor relationship.
Consider issues that may arise and think about how to overcome them.
Discuss techniques for working with your supervisor and managing your relationship.
Roles and ResponsibilitiesTake a few minutes to:
Outline some ways that supervisors can help you complete your dissertation;
Outline the ways that this process could become problematic;
Outline some ways that you could make the supervision process easier.
Why should you manage your relationship with your
supervisor(s)?They are probably busier than you think they are
They may not be aware of your dissertation timeline to extent you are
Your enthusiasm and organisation may impress them
You want to complete on time with as few problems as possible
They may be your key reference for future jobs etc.
Supervisor’s Responsibility
Encouraging you to continue your programme
Providing timely, constructive feedback
Assisting in developing your ideas
Ethics process
Students’ Responsibilities Behave ethically – including submitting to ethics
committees
Attend supervisions to discuss progress and any concerns
Attend/participate in classes, seminars, lectures, other events
Manage learning responsibly
Understand good scholarly practice
Submit work by deadlines
Seek and respond to feedback on written work
Living up to the idea … ?
Submitting drafts to your supervisor
Page numbers on each draft!
Explain in each draft what stage you are at – is this a first draft, or a final version?
Make sure you note missing references or areas where you know further work is needed
Cover sheet/Intro. on every piece of work submitted with: Your name, student ID, and course name Research questions/topic/methods Ensure each chapter’s first page has:
Chapter number Full current title
Details of word length, plus any missing element(s)
Writing is the driver of good supervision
Writing clarifies your thinking
Conversation sometimes masks differences in view or misunderstandings
Your supervisor gains information about your progress and thinking from your written work
Supervisors cannot comment usefully on your progress, or provide sound advice, unless they can see your thought process in writing
Top Tip IDon't be afraid to put questions to your supervisor!
But it is often better to ask specific questions that you have attempted to find answers to first.
Instead of asking, "How am I doing?" you are more likely to get the detailed answer you
need if you ask, "What do you think of the analysis in Chapter 2?"
Tips for working with your Supervisor
Use whatever form of communication works for you and your supervisor Email Phone Face-to-face
Send notes of what you’d like to discuss before supervision
Don’t be afraid to make notes whilst meeting – often you may forget details later without notes.
You may find that the dissertation guidelines or the University website are helpful in answering many of your questions.
Be careful of relying on information from other students too heavily – remember, they’ve not completed the course yet, either!
What issues might arise … ?
Potential issues for Students
Lack of guidance
Lack of availability
Insufficiently critical
Too critical
Lack of knowledge in subject area
Three unforgiveable traitsSupervisors that:
do not read your writing;
never attend supervisions;
are selfish, unforgiving brutes.
Adapted from Brabazon (2013)
Potential issues for Supervisors
Students that are:
Overly dependent
Lack of honesty
Unresponsive/elusive
Lack enthusiasm
Don’t follow advice
Oversensitive to criticism
Lack commitment
Top Tip IIIt is your responsibility to monitor your
own study and contact your supervisor if you are having problems: don't wait for them to email you.
If they don't hear from you, they will probably assume you are doing fine.
BASIS of issues …Lack of communication
Mismatched expectations
Competing pressures
Personality clash Is this an option when both individuals are (or soon
will be) professionally bound?
Overcoming issues | 1Keep expectations realistic
Be organised
Be professional
Be open, flexible and honest
Overcoming issues | 2Discuss expectations at the beginning
Give sufficient notice for requests
Draw up a list of questions for your meetings
Outline the tasks you’ve agreed at the end of supervision
Remind the supervisor of tasks they’ve agreed to do for you
Arrange next meeting ahead of time (if possible)
Alert supervisor to problems as they arise
Overcoming issues | 3If problems persist:
ApproachYour supervisor (required, in the first instance)Your course leader
If issue is not resolved, you should approachStudent’s Union/Student Advice CentreLDUHead of Academic DepartmentHead of School
Be aware of your supervisor’s other responsibilities
Undergraduate Tutees/Supervisees (8+) and courses
Other MSc Supervisees and courses
Class teachers for BSc/MSc courses
Academic Research & Publications
Administrative role within the Course, Department, or School
Other Professional roles – Editor, Referee for journals, Conference, External Examining (PhD, Masters degrees)
Top Tip IIIBe prepared for your supervisor to "wean you off"
their guidance as your dissertation progresses
e.g. in the Spring you may ask "Am I going in the right direction?" and they may reply "You should be able to decide that for yourself".
Take this as a positive sign that your supervisor thinks you are ready to have more independence.
Summary of KEY POINTSKeep to time (meetings and tasks)
Be honest and open with your supervisor about your progress
Ensure that you provide your supervisor ample time to comment on your work given their other commitments.
Respond to comments (feedback) as constructively as possible
Seek advice or support as soon as you think something is beginning to affect your progress
ActivityWhat is your dissertation topic?
What are your broad methods?
What is your timescale to complete?
Further Informationhttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1234/
Supervision-and-key-relationships.html
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/1253/Managing-the-supervision-process.html
http://thesiswhisperer.com/category/you-and-your-supervisor/