Clarifying Expectations

 

Clarifying Expectations

The supervisor – PhD student relationship is essential for good PhD supervision as well as for successful completion of PhD studies. The relationship may be difficult to define, since every relationship is unique. In general, a good relationship builds on trust and respect.

 

The challenges

As a starting point a supervisor and PhD student, who are new to each other, only have the institutionally defined or contractual relationship to rely on. Trust and respect need to be built, especially when the two persons involved have different cultural backgrounds.

 

Many tacit expectations from both sides can lead to misunderstandings if not discussed openly. Power relations and gender issues govern the relationship to a varying degree.

 

Talk about what you expect from each other

The best thing to do seems to make the supervisory relationship and the supervisory practice subjects of discussions from the beginning to the end of the supervisory process. We therefore suggest that you spend some time and effort on clarifying mutual expectations.

 

Set up a meeting right away

We recommend that you and your supervisor(s) have a meeting within the first rwo weeks after your enrolment in order to initiate the process of writing the PhD plan and to discuss the agreement on the preferred method of interaction between you. The overall agreement on the frames of supervision should be stated in the PhD plan.

 

Questions for the first meeting

We have developed a list of questions that are useful to initiate a discussion about supervision. We suggest that you (PhD student and supervisor) each state your preferred replies before you meet to discuss the questions and formulate an agreement on supervisory practice.

 

In addition to avoiding simple misunderstandings, this makes it easier and more natural to talk about supervision.

Inspirations sheet for clarifying mutual expectations. There are no right or wrong answers, only individual preferences.

 

Co-authorship

The supervisor may be a co-author if the requirements of the Vancouver rules have been met. Vancouver rules: ”Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication”. Please see http://www.icmje.org/ . This is stated in form F15 Declaration of Co-authorship. We recommend that you discuss the implications of the Vancouver rules.

 

Further reading

• Handal, G. and P. Lauvås (2006) Forskningsveilederen. Cappelen Akademisk Forlag, Oslo, Norway. pp. 265. (Norweigian)
• Handal, G. and P. Lauvås (2007) Veiledning i de videregående utdannelser. Dansk Universitetspædagogisk Tidsskrift (3), pp 4-10. (Norwegian)
• Phillips, E. M. and D. S. Pugh (2005) How to get a PhD. A handbook for students and their supervisors. Open University Press, Fourth edition. 240 pp.
• Rugg, G and M. Petre (2004) The unwritten Rules of PhD Research. Open University Press.