Negotiating the "Rackety Bridge" — a Dynamic Model for Aligning Supervisory Style with Research Student Development

Abstract

Postgraduate research student supervision is examined with the aim of developing a model of the supervisory relationship to improve practice by encouraging a more proactive role for students. The term "competent autonomy" is defined and argued to be a universal objective of the PhD. A tentative "supervisor/student alignment model" based on the development of this objective is proposed. It draws upon some features of earlier models but stresses the need for a dynamic alignment of supervisory style with the student's degree of development. Operationalised as a tool and tested empirically, it was found to encourage students to periodically reflect on and discuss their needs as competent autonomy is developed. Feedback is presented from a group of PhD students with whom the tool has been used at approximately 6 monthly intervals for up to three years to deliver supervision aligned to their dynamic needs.