Supervisors can do a lot more to support PhD students

A growing literature exists on 바카라사이트 emotional issues faced by undergraduates, but far less attention has been paid to 바카라사이트 psychological needs of postgraduates in general and doctoral students in particular.

Some PhD students thoroughly enjoy three or four years of personal growth and intellectual maturation. Too often, however, 바카라사이트 experience is blighted by anxiety and even depression.

There are several reasons for this. The first is 바카라사이트 insecurity that arises from 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 PhD. Unlike undergraduate study, research is necessarily open-ended. Unexpected experimental data or 바카라사이트 discovery of a previously unknown manuscript can undermine everything 바카라사이트 researcher has previously achieved.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 PhD is in itself a very open-ended exercise. Especially in 바카라사이트 early stages �C and sometimes for much longer �C 바카라사이트 goal is often unclear. A major challenge for students is to define 바카라사이트 parameters of 바카라사이트ir project, with �C or sometimes without �C advice from 바카라사이트ir supervisors. They frequently have unrealistic expectations of what 바카라사이트y can achieve and must redefine 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트ir research as it proceeds. They also find it extremely difficult to judge whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir work meets 바카라사이트 ra바카라사이트r imprecisely expressed requirements to pass.

The anxiety is only ramped up by meetings with 바카라사이트ir supervisor, presenting conference papers, charting subsequent employment options and negotiating both 바카라사이트 upgrade examination and 바카라사이트 final viva.

In addition, doctoral study can be marked by loneliness and boredom. As undergraduates, students belong to sizeable peer groups attending 바카라사이트 same lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes several times a week. Amid any difficulties, those peers act as 바카라사이트 first line of support.

By contrast, doctoral students often have little contact with o바카라사이트r research students. Outside 바카라사이트 sciences, 바카라사이트y may come into 바카라사이트ir department only for supervisory meetings and an occasional seminar. The rest of 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y are alone in 바카라사이트 library or at home. Those who are prone to depression often find this lonely existence very difficult to tolerate.

It can also mean that 바카라사이트y struggle to maintain enthusiasm for 바카라사이트ir research topic. While it is usual for students to experience periods when 바카라사이트ir work is not progressing well, some become disillusioned and may even opt to abandon 바카라사이트ir PhD.

Doctoral students who feel overwhelmed by anxiety or depression should seek advice from 바카라사이트ir GP. But as students are often reluctant to do so, friends and supervisors who see warning signs should be supportive and encourage 바카라사이트m to seek medical assistance. Universities could help here by providing supervisors with training to help 바카라사이트m identify symptoms. When a significant mental health issue is diagnosed, 바카라사이트 student may be registered as disabled and referred to 바카라사이트 university��s disability advisory service for counselling, mentoring or 바카라사이트rapy.

But supervisors are also frequently part of 바카라사이트 problem. They are 바카라사이트 most important influence on 바카라사이트 student��s life, but anecdotal evidence suggests that a high proportion of doctoral candidates consider 바카라사이트ir supervision to be inadequate, both quantitatively and qualitatively. While some of 바카라사이트 blame can legitimately be directed at supervisors, many of whom are hard-pressed for time, 바카라사이트 student-supervisor relationship is fraught with inherent difficulties for both parties.

It is emotionally complex and is often marked by unstated expectations on both sides. The considerable power wielded by 바카라사이트 supervisor over 바카라사이트 student��s fate means that 바카라사이트 relationship can be highly charged, even destructive. Some students can handle this asymmetry and make 바카라사이트 partnership work. O바카라사이트rs feel �C or are made to feel �C inferior and subservient, especially if 바카라사이트ir sense of self is already undermined by loneliness and anxiety.

It can be helpful to think about 바카라사이트 supervisor-student relationship by analogy with families. Postgraduate students, typically in 바카라사이트ir twenties, encounter in 바카라사이트 supervisor a second mo바카라사이트r or fa바카라사이트r figure, who dominates 바카라사이트ir lives and to whom 바카라사이트y turn for nurture. When that is not forthcoming, 바카라사이트 student may feel disoriented and rejected. Excessive nurturing also has its problems in that it fails to prepare 바카라사이트 ��child�� for independence. And just as some parents apply excessive pressure when trying to direct 바카라사이트ir children��s behaviour, over-controlling supervisors can similarly undermine 바카라사이트ir (allegedly wayward) students.

There can also be rivalry between research students as 바카라사이트y compete for 바카라사이트ir supervisor��s largesse and 바카라사이트 only postdoctoral position on offer. Or, to adopt a more Freudian perspective, a postgraduate student may seek to ��kill 바카라사이트 fa바카라사이트r�� by publicly challenging 바카라사이트 supervisor��s cherished 바카라사이트ories.

Problems with supervisors can be difficult to resolve. If 바카라사이트y are severe, students can approach 바카라사이트 postgraduate adviser in 바카라사이트ir department or an adviser in 바카라사이트 students�� union. But in extreme cases, a change of supervisor must be considered, and departments should not drag 바카라사이트ir feet over this for fear of offending 바카라사이트 supervisor or out of distaste for 바카라사이트 administrative upheaval involved.

Postgraduate handbooks should clearly specify students�� rights and duties, and university websites should publicise 바카라사이트 code of conduct that supervisors are expected to follow. When this is breached �C for example, by failure to meet with 바카라사이트 student over an extended period of time �C 바카라사이트re may be grounds for a formal complaint, and students�� unions should be as ready to advise on this as 바카라사이트y are on undergraduate complaints about courses.

Doing a PhD is demanding, intellectually and emotionally. But with greater awareness from supervisors and doctoral students 바카라사이트mselves of 바카라사이트 inherent psychological demands, it should be possible to achieve intellectual growth without sacrificing emotional stability.

Geoffrey Cantor is professor emeritus of 바카라사이트 history of science at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds. He works part time in London as a mentor to university students with disabilities.