A5/B5 Supplementary notes 2

Below are some outline scenarios, add more information to them as you like and give examples of how a supervisor might respond to the problem using different approaches. 

Use your own scenarios if you prefer.

1)      Compete the table overleaf.  In how many different ways could you approach these problems with PhD students?

2)      How many of these different responses would you recommend?

a) Your student asks for your help in getting a job when s/he finishes her PhD. She is at the end of year 3. She has been doing some teaching and is progressing well.

b) Your student has not responded to your request (and the agreement that you both signed up to in the last annual report) to send you some work in advance of each meeting. Two meetings ago s/he sent you nothing and at this meeting you have just been given two pages of work. You are three months into the second year.

c) Your student seems to be reading the right literature, but is only summarising it, not conceptualising what s/he is reading.

d) Your student is rushing everything. S/he has come up with an outline of his/her research study too quickly, not enough reflection has gone into it.

e) The culture in your department is very strong. Everyone has worked together for a long time and new research students are usually quiet for at least the first two years while the experienced members of staff work out what they can do. This new student is not like that. S/he keeps asking questions, some of which are not appropriate, and other members of staff have asked you to have a word with her.

Dr Anne Lee, Centre for Learning Development,

University of Surrey. UK

© Dr Anne Lee 2008