research methods
DESCRIPTION
Research Methods. Supervision. Advisor vs. Supervisor. Supervisor Identified in your offer letter. The faculty member(s) that helps get you through your program Long-term commitment to you Advisor A faculty member who helps you find a supervisor 1 term or less. What do Professors Want?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Department of Computer Science Faculty of Science
Research MethodsSupervision
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Advisor vs. Supervisor
• Supervisor– Identified in your offer letter.– The faculty member(s) that helps get you
through your program– Long-term commitment to you
• Advisor– A faculty member who helps you find a supervisor
– 1 term or less
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
What do Professors Want?• Some characteristics:
– Most have over10 years of post-secondary education
– Experts in their fields– the field may be very small– Were once grad students– They have forgotten this
• Pressure to – publish new research– teach– provide service
• They want to supervise you!– They may not know you exist.
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
If you didn’t exist they could not become…
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
What are they looking for in grad students?
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
What is expected of Graduate Students?
• devote the necessary time and energy to complete their academic requirements – within the expected time frame, – while adhering to university policies and – program guidelines.
• By agreeing to work with a supervisor, graduate students agree – to show their supervisor respect, – seek their advice and give it serious consideration, and – seek additional guidance from their supervisory committee or
program director as needed.
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Strategies to find a supervisor
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
On Supervision
• You need it!• Inspirational statement
– The supervisory relationship is the foundation of graduate education• particularly in a doctoral program.
• Cautionary statement– The supervisory relationship can be the
source of many of the problems in graduate education
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
What is expected of Supervisors?• The big ones
– Guide your development and intellectual growth– Assist you to complete the program successfully
• Others– Assess your progress– Determine your suitability to continue– Help select and Chair your thesis supervisory
committee– Work with you to select appropriate courses– Help you select a research topic– Guide your research effort– Guide you in the preparation of your thesis
arguments in document form– Sit on your examination committee
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Knowing your supervisor
• Helpful characteristics– Funded research program(s)?– Expertise is something you are
interested in– Available– Compatible– Plays well with others– Track-record of success
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Informal Roles of a Supervisor
• Connection Maker– Industry contacts, grants, local
resources
• Sounding Board– Provider of the “cold light of day”
• Snapper of whips– Deadlines, progress, direction
• Informal Cheer Leader– Saying the right things at the right time
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
The Supervisory Committee• meets regularly with you • reviews your thesis proposal• recommends its approval to the Program
Director • reviews your progress on the thesis at least once
a term • evaluates a thesis readiness to be examined• makes a recommendation to the Program
Director regarding a date for the defence; • ensures that a copy of the student’s thesis is
sent to each member of the student’s Examining Committee – as far as possible in advance of a scheduled oral
examination, but no less than three weeks prior to the date scheduled.
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Identifying Expectations• Need clear, shared expectations with your
supervisor. • Set timelines for each stage of work. • Identify preferred methods of
communication. • Discuss intellectual property issues. • Identify publication expectations, and • other matters.
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Know Your Deadlines• Who knows them
– http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/dates/`– Your supervisor knows few of them– The GPD knows some of them– The GPA knows all of them
• Some deadlines are critical– Grant applications– Intent s to apply for funding– Grades
• Some are Machiavellian– Defence dates– YSGS dates– Qualifying Examination Dates
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
When Problems Arise
• Resolve problems when they are small• “problem getting bigger” succession
– Supervisor– Grad Program Administrator– Grad Program Director– School of Graduate Studies Functionary– Dean of Graduate Studies
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Guiding Principles from Canadian Association of Graduate Studies
• Identify supervisors in a timely fashion• Establish the supervisory committee early• Expectations, roles and responsibilities made clear early• Supervisor must be available and monitor progress with feedback• Maintain a professional relationship• Intellectual debate and challenging of ideas should be encouraged• Supervisors should be mentors• Intellectual property and Authorship issues should be made clear
early• Resolve conflicts at the lowest level possible and move on• Continuity is important• Alternate supervision should be available• Students have a substantial responsibility for managing themselves
LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Homework
• Read the following article:– “How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students
and Advisors” by Marie desJardins (http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html)
• Class Assignment 1: Due next week– Write a 1 paragraph description of who you are that is
syntactically and semantically correct. Also explain why you want to be a graduate student. Please include other goals if you can.