nickels hcsnet dec2008 supervision revised
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Managing your supervisor
HCSNet Summerfest Skills session. 3rd December 2008, Sydney, Australia.
Lyndsey NickelsAssociate Professor
Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS),
Macquarie University, Sydney.
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Aims
To ponder on the nature of the PhD supervision
process
To discuss common problems
To suggest ideas and strategies to enhance thesupervisory process
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Intellectual challenge &hard work
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Intellectual challenge &Intellectual challenge &hard workhard work
Human factorsHuman factors
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Managing the supervisory process
How your personalities, styles, strengthsand weaknesses will best interact to
achieve a successful outcome
Understanding yourUnderstanding your
supervisor and theirsupervisor and their
responsibilitiesresponsibilities
Understanding yourselfUnderstanding yourself
and your responsibilitiesand your responsibilities
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Managing the supervisory process
Your supervisorYour supervisorYOUYOU GOALGOAL
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Your supervisorYour supervisor
Managing the supervisory process
YOUYOU GOALGOAL
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GOALGOAL
Perform enough research of sufficient quality
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GOALGOAL
Perform enough research of sufficient quality
And write this up into a thesis of sufficient quality to pass
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GOALGOAL
Perform enough research of sufficient quality
And write this up into a thesis of sufficient quality to pass
PLUS
Do this in time
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GOALGOAL
Perform enough research of sufficient quality
And write this up into a thesis of sufficient quality to pass
PLUS
Do this in time
And generate some publications
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Your supervisorYour supervisor
Managing the supervisory process
YOUYOU GOALGOAL
So both are aiming forthe same thing why
would there be aproblem?
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Your supervisorYour supervisor
Managing the supervisory process
YOUYOU GOALGOAL
So both are aiming forthe same thing why
would there be aproblem?
Mismatch of expectations Personality clash Other pressures
Lack of communication
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Communication about Expectations
Contract No explicitdiscussion
If it isnt made explicit
then YOU need to ask the questions
to find out what your supervisors preferences are/ what to expect
AND to express your opinion on how you might work best.
- Meetings
- Feedback & Writing
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PhDs require meetings!
When to have them
Weekly vs as requested
Expectations - Meetings
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PhDs require meetings!
When to have them
Weekly vs as requested
How to run them
Agendas
Minutes
Pre-reading
Length
Expectations - Meetings
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PhDs require meetings!
Meetings
When to have them
Weekly vs as requested
How to run them
Agendas
Minutes
Pre-reading
Length
What to get out of them
Aims of each meeting
Expectations - Meetings
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Meetings - summary
Draw up an agenda for your meetings
Make a note of the outcome of meetings and distribute
Start each meeting with a recap of the last
Plan next meeting at end of previous
Alert supervisor to problems as they arise
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Expectations Feedback & Writing
When to write
early
When to get feedback
outlines of chapters
Drafts (early incomplete vs complete)
What to expect from feedback
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Expectations - Feedback
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Expectations - Feedback
Minimalist feedback
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Expectations - Feedback
Minimalist feedback
Note specific questions you haveand raise them directly
-Was point A clear?-Do you agree that ?
-Should I include X?-Is there too much repetition of Y?
-How could I improve the draft?
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Expectations - FeedbackDetailed feedback
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Expectations - FeedbackDetailed feedback
- Dont take it personally.- Be grateful that they have taken
the time to read it in detail- Be pleased that they care enoughto make the comments.- Ask what they thought were the
strengths.-Take comments on board andlearn the lesson for the next drafts.
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Feedback
No passion in the world is equal to the passion to altersomeone else's draft.
H. G. Wells
- Its a learning process
- You cant expect to have perfect ideas, or perfectacademic writing style straight away
- Many academics will make changes to other academicswriting too (it isnt just you!)
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Other pressures
Time management Supervisors are busy people.
- They may need help planning their time.- They dislike having their time wasted.
- They will not be able to drop everything toread your draft.
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Other pressures
Time management Supervisors are busy people.
- They may need help planning their time.- They dislike having their time wasted.
- They will not be able to drop everything toread your draft.
Set deadlines(for you and them)
- I will produce this by X day- Can you read it by Y day
and meet/email feedback?
ASK what their schedule islikely to be in the coming
weeks.
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Communication
Be open and honest
Discuss what is and isnt working for you
Discuss the other pressures you are under
If they understand you better they can supervise youmore effectively
Dont try to second guess your supervisor
Especially if this leads to making promises you cant keep
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Keys to success
Communication,
Clarity, discipline, organisation
Knowing what you need
Knowing what your supervisor(s) expect
Motivation & Determination
To able to say no and
To ask for help
To be able to follow advice and learn from mistakes
To be able to keep things in perspective
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Keys to success
Discuss expectations at the beginning
Keep your expectations realistic (and align them withyour supervisors expectations)
Be organised
Give sufficient notice for requests
Be open and honest
Be professional this is an adult relationship
Even a successful relationship will benefit from carefulmanagement
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BUT.
Conflict is common
Supervision is like a marriage
Even divorce is possible
If problems persist despite an open, professional and organisedapproach from you:
Approach your departments doctoral programme director/convenor
Approach the Higher Degree Research Office
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Managing your supervisor
Their Goal = your goal
to get your Phd
BUT
Theyre human
They are unable to read your mind
GOALGOAL
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Acknowledgements and references
Lynn Clark: University of Liverpool
Managing Your Supervisorwww.postgradtalentnw.co.uk/downloads/prism2006/ManagingYourSupervisor.ppt
http://www.grad.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Online_
resources/Just_for_Postgrads/Managing_your_research/Managing_your_relationship_with_your_supervisor/p!egikjdp
www.Phdcomics.com
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