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Course Work Dissertations

Supervisory Best Practices for Undergraduate, Honours and Masters by Coursework Psychology Dissertations. Course Work Dissertations. Essential component of some undergraduate, honours and master’s coursework degrees Most universities provide policy and procedural documents

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Course Work Dissertations

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  1. Supervisory Best Practices for Undergraduate, Honours and Masters by Coursework Psychology Dissertations

  2. Course Work Dissertations • Essential component of some undergraduate, honours and master’s coursework degrees • Most universities provide policy and procedural documents • Limited research into practice of dissertation supervision in coursework degrees • Existing research focuses on dissertation practice in PhDs, and may be applied to coursework degrees BUT …. ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  3. …. Coursework Students Differ from PhD Students • No/limited previous independent research experience (Cook, 1980) • May have lower interest in conducting research (Cook, 1980) • Need to complete research in a shorter timeframe (Rowley & Slack, 2004). • Degree may be viewed as route to a professional, rather than research career ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  4. Research Question How do students, supervisors and dissertation coordinators conceptualise ‘good’ supervision in course work dissertations? ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  5. Research Participants

  6. Semi-Structured Interviews Can you tell me about a time when, from your perspective, supervision has gone well? Prompts: What was it you/your supervisor/your student did that contributed to this? Other contributing factors? Thematic analysis ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  7. Good Supervision: Student Perspectives Student Supervisor Relationship Shared passion for topic Clear expectations Open communication Available Approachable Supportive ‘Good’ Supervision Meetings Relaxed space Concerns listed to Guidance and support Synergy Meeting Outcomes Re-motivated students Focus and clarity Agreed course of action Reduced stress Preparation Ownership Management

  8. Good Supervision: Supervisor Perspectives Student Supervisor Relationship Shared passion for topic Clear expectations Positive relationship/group dynamic Supportive Provide structure Research knowledge ‘Good’ Supervision Meetings Guidance Clarification Positive feedback Meeting Outcomes Personal growth Skill development Student satisfaction Interest Ownership

  9. Good Supervision: Supervisor and Student Perspectives Student Supervisor Relationship Open communication Shared passion for topic Clear expectations Positive relationship/group dynamic Available Approachable Supportive Provide structure Research knowledge Meeting Outcomes Remotivated student Focus and clarity Agreed course of action Reduced stress Personal growth Skill development Student satisfaction ‘Good’ Supervision Meetings Relaxed space Concerns listed to Guidance and support Synergy Clarification Positive feedback Preparation Management Ownership Interest

  10. Negotiated Practice University/Faculty/School Guidelines Negotiated Practice

  11. Identification of Issues Systemic Issues Practice Issues Differing expectations Co-supervision Managing groups Feedback Supervisor disinterest Supervisor availability Inequities Cross-cultural issues Differing advice Needy students • Insufficient workload allocation • Lack of training/mentoring • Unrealistic supervisory loads • Power Imbalance

  12. Vignettes Developed New Supervisor Perspective …It’s perhaps a function of me not explaining my expectations clearly enough. I’m now taking a firmer line. I’ve now realised it’s all a matter of getting those expectations sorted… Student Perspective …I think we had made a few assumptions about what each other was thinking or how the honours year plays out and I didn’t necessarily know much about honours at all. Coordinator Perspective ….The main area of conflict the students are having seem to be their expectations clash so differently with their supervisors that they can't really see a way around it.

  13. Identifying Best Practice • Literature search • Internet search • Previous OLT/HEAC projects • Invitations to honours coordinators • Requests via social media ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  14. Workshops with Supervisors • Shared supervisory experience • Workshopped ways of responding to supervisory issues • Evaluated best practice materials ICOPE 6: Supervisory Best Practices

  15. Best Practice Materials • Guide for new supervisors • Best practice tools • Website • Project Materials • Blog • Annotated Bibliography • Related projects

  16. Website: http://www.dissertationsupervision.org/

  17. Adoption?

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