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Agreeing expectations from the supervisory relationship

This page contains a list of statements which can provide a stimulus for discussion between a doctoral researcher and their supervisor – to help them agree what each expects from the supervisory relationship.

A man and a woman sat at a table discussing a topic on a piece of paper. Photograph from VitaeCon2023.

How can these statements be used?

Successful supervisory relationships are usually built upon an explicit understanding (agreement or even disagreement) about the responsibilities of each party.

Each pair of statements could be reviewed by both the doctoral researcher and the supervisor who then independently record their expectations . For example with statement 1, if you believe very strongly that it is the supervisor’s responsibility to select a good topic, put a ring round ‘1′. If you think that both the supervisor and researcher should equally be involved you put a ring round ‘3′ and if you think it is definitely the researcher’s responsibility to select a topic, choose ‘5′.

Answers can be compared and discussed. The statements might be used, for example, during an initial supervision meeting to ensure that expectations, roles and responsibilities are agreed from the beginning of the relationship.

As perceptions may change over time, it may be useful to revisit these statements, particularly where issues arise in the supervisory relationship.

  1. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to select a research topic
  2. It is the supervisor who decides which theoretical framework or methodology is most appropriate
  3. The supervisor should develop an appropriate programme and timetable of research and study for the researcher
  4. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the researcher is introduced to the appropriate services and facilities of the department and university
  5. A warm supportive relationship between supervisor and researcher is important for successful candidature
  6. The supervisor should insist on regular meetings with the researcher
  7. The supervisor should check regularly that the researcher is working consistently and on task
  8. The supervisor is responsible for providing emotional support and encouragement to the researcher
  9. The supervisor should insist on seeing all drafts of work to ensure that the researcher in on the right track
  10. The supervisor should assist in the writing of the thesis if necessary
  11. The supervisor is responsible for decisions regarding the standard of the thesis

Choose a number for each statement: 1_2_3_4_5

1 means it is the supervisor’s responsibility, 3 means it is of equal responsibility, and 5 means it is the researcher’s responsibility.

  1. The researcher is responsible for selecting their own topic
  2. Researchers should decide which theoretical framework or methodology they wish to use
  3. The supervisor should leave the development of the programme of study to the researcher
  4. It is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure that they have found and accessed all the relevant services and facilities for research
  5. A personal supportive relationship is inadvisable because it may obstruct objectivity for both researcher and supervisor during the candidature
  6. The researcher should decide when they want to meet with the supervisor
  7. The researcher should work independently and not have to account for how and where time is spent
  8. Personal counselling and support are not the responsibility of the supervisor and the researcher should look elsewhere
  9. Researchers should submit drafts of work only when they want constructive criticism from the supervisor
  10. The writing of the thesis should only ever be the researcher’s own work
  11. The researcher is responsible for decisions concerning the standard of the thesis

Extracted from M Kiley & G Mullins (Eds) (1998) Quality in Postgraduate Research: Managing the new agenda, University of Adelaide, Australia.