Completion mindsets and contexts in doctoral supervision

Abstract

Purpose

Doctoral candidates are now located within a research context of performativity where the push to successfully complete in a timely manner is central. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model of completion mindset within a completion context to assist research students and supervisors.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was undertaken using qualitative interviews involving both PhD candidates and research supervisors, with transcripts analysed both manually and using NVivo. The paper addresses two questions: How can supervisors create a supportive completion context and help candidates to develop an effective completion mindset? What approach does a candidate need to take and what environment does a supervisor need to create in order to facilitate timely successful completion? These key questions are addressed through examples of individual success stories as well as through the development of a series of supervisory models.

Findings

The need to complete “on time” often clashes with concerns for the quality of the final outcomes. The paper shows, both from analysis of the data and theoretical reflection, that a “completion mindset” is an essential element in the pursuit of doctoral success. It is argued that “mindfulness” is part of this mindset, which needs to be located in a “completion context”.

Originality/value

In presenting both theoretical and practical positions, as well as the implications for quality, the paper contributes to the current debates surrounding research supervision. The paper extends Green's RIP (relational, intellectual, physical) model for supervisory practice to include emotionality as an explicit aspect.

Citation

Green, P. and Bowden, J. (2012), "Completion mindsets and contexts in doctoral supervision", Quality Assurance in Education, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 66-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/09684881211198257