Transcript Research Methods - Ryerson University

Research Methods
Supervision
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
Advisor vs. Supervisor
• Supervisor
– Identified in your offer letter.
– The faculty member(s) that helps get you
through your program
– Long-term commitment to you
• Advisor
– A faculty member who helps you find a
supervisor
– 1 term or less
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
What do Professors Want?
• Some characteristics:
– Most have over10 years of post-secondary
education
– Experts in their fields
– the field may be very small
– Were once grad students
– They have forgotten this
• Pressure to
– publish new research
– teach
– provide service
• They want to supervise you!
– They may not know you exist.
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
If you didn’t exist they could not
become…
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
What are they looking for in grad
students?
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
What is expected of Graduate
Students?
• devote the necessary time and energy to complete their
academic requirements
– within the expected time frame,
– while adhering to university policies and
– program guidelines.
• By agreeing to work with a supervisor, graduate students
agree
– to show their supervisor respect,
– seek their advice and give it serious consideration, and
– seek additional guidance from their supervisory committee or
program director as needed.
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Strategies to find a supervisor
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
On Supervision
• You need it!
• Inspirational statement
– The supervisory relationship is the foundation
of graduate education
• particularly in a doctoral program.
• Cautionary statement
– The supervisory relationship can be the
source of many of the problems in graduate
education
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
•
What is expected of
Supervisors?
The big ones
– Guide your development and intellectual growth
– Assist you to complete the program successfully
• Others
– Assess your progress
– Determine your suitability to continue
– Help select and Chair your thesis supervisory
committee
– Work with you to select appropriate courses
– Help you select a research topic
– Guide your research effort
– Guide you in the preparation of your thesis
arguments in document form
– Sit on your examination committee
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Knowing your supervisor
• Helpful characteristics
– Funded research program(s)?
– Expertise is something you are
interested in
– Available
– Compatible
– Plays well with others
– Track-record of success
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Informal Roles of a Supervisor
• Connection Maker
– Industry contacts, grants, local
resources
• Sounding Board
– Provider of the “cold light of day”
• Snapper of whips
– Deadlines, progress, direction
• Informal Cheer Leader
– Saying the right things at the right time
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
The Supervisory Committee
• meets regularly with you
• reviews your thesis proposal
• recommends its approval to the Program
Director
• reviews your progress on the thesis at least once
a term
• evaluates a thesis readiness to be examined
• makes a recommendation to the Program
Director regarding a date for the defence;
• ensures that a copy of the student’s thesis is
sent to each member of the student’s Examining
Committee
– as far as possible in advance of a scheduled oral
examination, but no less than three weeks prior to the
date scheduled.
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Identifying Expectations
• Need clear, shared expectations with your
supervisor.
• Set timelines for each stage of work.
• Identify preferred methods of
communication.
• Discuss intellectual property issues.
• Identify publication expectations, and
• other matters.
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Know Your Deadlines
• Who knows them
–
–
–
–
http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/dates/`
Your supervisor knows few of them
The GPD knows some of them
The GPA knows all of them
• Some deadlines are critical
– Grant applications
– Intent s to apply for funding
– Grades
• Some are Machiavellian
– Defence dates
– YSGS dates
– Qualifying Examination Dates
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
When Problems Arise
• Resolve problems when they are small
• “problem getting bigger” succession
– Supervisor
– Grad Program Administrator
– Grad Program Director
– School of Graduate Studies Functionary
– Dean of Graduate Studies
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Guiding Principles from Canadian
Association of Graduate Studies
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Identify supervisors in a timely fashion
Establish the supervisory committee early
Expectations, roles and responsibilities made clear early
Supervisor must be available and monitor progress with feedback
Maintain a professional relationship
Intellectual debate and challenging of ideas should be encouraged
Supervisors should be mentors
Intellectual property and Authorship issues should be made clear
early
Resolve conflicts at the lowest level possible and move on
Continuity is important
Alternate supervision should be available
Students have a substantial responsibility for managing themselves
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Homework
• Read the following article:
– “How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students
and Advisors” by Marie desJardins
(http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html)
• Class Assignment 1: Due next week
– Write a 1 paragraph description of who you are that is
syntactically and semantically correct. Also explain why you
want to be a graduate student. Please include other goals if you
can.
Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Science
LEADERS OF TOMORROW