Tom Tomasi, Graduate Tom Tomasi, Graduate CollegeCollege

Julie Masterson, CHHSJulie Masterson, CHHS

Directing Student Research: Finding Directing Student Research: Finding the Right Balancethe Right Balance

Treat Research Treat Research Advisement Advisement

Like a CourseLike a Course

Key ConceptKey Concept

Disclaimer…Disclaimer…

The principles covered on the next few slides were dreamed The principles covered on the next few slides were dreamed up by Julie Masterson over the 20+ years she’s been up by Julie Masterson over the 20+ years she’s been directing student research. Sponsorship of this workshop directing student research. Sponsorship of this workshop does not imply endorsement by the College of Health and does not imply endorsement by the College of Health and Human Services, your department head, the tenured Human Services, your department head, the tenured faculty in your department, the gods of research, etc.faculty in your department, the gods of research, etc.

CSD SystemCSD System 5 PhD Research Advisors/25 master’s students 5 PhD Research Advisors/25 master’s students

per yearper year Research workshop in first spring (Sem. 2 or Research workshop in first spring (Sem. 2 or

3)3) Students may meet individually to follow upStudents may meet individually to follow up Students submit ranked choices of advisor, Students submit ranked choices of advisor,

along with potential topics, and desired formatalong with potential topics, and desired format Faculty meet to determine assignments, Faculty meet to determine assignments,

based on interest and equality in loadbased on interest and equality in load Syllabus with expectations, due dates, etc. Syllabus with expectations, due dates, etc.

each semestereach semester Grade assigned each semesterGrade assigned each semester

““Market” Your AgendaMarket” Your Agenda

Establish a clear research agenda Establish a clear research agenda (set up a lab and name it!)(set up a lab and name it!)

Ensure that students know about Ensure that students know about your research activities and potential your research activities and potential “slots” for them“slots” for them

DirectDirect student research, rather than student research, rather than being being directed bydirected by student’s interests student’s interests in researchin research

TreasureTreasure student involvement student involvement

Optimal Number of AdviseesOptimal Number of Advisees

SufficientSufficient Get students involved in your areaGet students involved in your area Help you accomplish your workHelp you accomplish your work ““Procreate”Procreate”

Not Too ManyNot Too Many Inadequate direction and support from youInadequate direction and support from you Potentially shoddy final versions from your Potentially shoddy final versions from your

studentsstudents Some theses, some research projectsSome theses, some research projects

LogisticsLogistics Establish a timeline.. Signed by both you and Establish a timeline.. Signed by both you and

the studentthe student Mapping out the project helps crystallize the conceptMapping out the project helps crystallize the concept Helps both of you respect the due datesHelps both of you respect the due dates Tom has a great guideline for final stagesTom has a great guideline for final stages

Schedule specific meeting time (weekly, bi-Schedule specific meeting time (weekly, bi-weekly)weekly) Discuss method Discuss method Answer questionsAnswer questions Feedback on adherence to timeline and quality of Feedback on adherence to timeline and quality of

workwork

““Grade” work at least once a semesterGrade” work at least once a semester Ongoing accountabilityOngoing accountability No surprises at the endNo surprises at the end

Balancing Direction/IndependenceBalancing Direction/Independence Remember the initial disclaimer… these views Remember the initial disclaimer… these views

certainly vary across faculty memberscertainly vary across faculty members They are Toddlers, at bestThey are Toddlers, at best Master’s Students/Clinical Doctoral Students are Master’s Students/Clinical Doctoral Students are

one step past bachelor’s studentsone step past bachelor’s students Don’t have sufficient background or training to be Don’t have sufficient background or training to be

even close to independent researchers. This is even close to independent researchers. This is likely their first experience.likely their first experience.

The nature of this experience may determine The nature of this experience may determine whether it is the “first of many” or the “first and whether it is the “first of many” or the “first and the last”!the last”!

JJM ExpectsJJM Expects Interest, enthusiasm for the area, selection of specific Interest, enthusiasm for the area, selection of specific

topic out of choicestopic out of choices Participation in establishment of timeline and Participation in establishment of timeline and

adherence to due datesadherence to due dates Tell student to “act like a graduate student”Tell student to “act like a graduate student”

Assume primary, independent responsibility for implementationAssume primary, independent responsibility for implementation Don’t turn in anything that is not considered “perfect” just so it Don’t turn in anything that is not considered “perfect” just so it

can be crossed off a to-do listcan be crossed off a to-do list It’s okay to have questions, but make sure they’re questions, It’s okay to have questions, but make sure they’re questions,

rather than “excuses” for not doing the writing, analyses, etc.rather than “excuses” for not doing the writing, analyses, etc. This often takes mentoring, too. Communicate your This often takes mentoring, too. Communicate your

expectations clearly and in a straightforward manner. Don’t expectations clearly and in a straightforward manner. Don’t assume they know anything about how they’re supposed to assume they know anything about how they’re supposed to act, perform, etc. act, perform, etc.

I’ll be first author on any manuscript, they will be on a I’ll be first author on any manuscript, they will be on a state (maybe national) conference presentation state (maybe national) conference presentation (this also (this also is in the contract)is in the contract)

JJM Does Not ExpectJJM Does Not Expect

Selection of valid topic independentlySelection of valid topic independently Efficient, productive progress without Efficient, productive progress without

guidance. Can’t imagine a post-bachelor’s guidance. Can’t imagine a post-bachelor’s student who could do this….rare indeed!student who could do this….rare indeed!

Writing that will not need a lot of editing and Writing that will not need a lot of editing and revision revision (it should definitely decrease across the span of (it should definitely decrease across the span of the experience)the experience)

Independent analysis of the dataIndependent analysis of the data Readiness for prospectus or defense without Readiness for prospectus or defense without

meeting my approval firstmeeting my approval first

Graduate College Graduate College Expectations of FacultyExpectations of Faculty

Do your share, but do not over-commit. Once you accept a student, “adopt”

him/her Help them acquire the needed skills Help them network Be honest, early

Help student determine an appropriate sized project Topics you can handle Thesis vs. non-thesis project Individual vs. team projects

To Thesis or not to ThesisTo Thesis or not to Thesis Requires more time (multiple semesters)

than a non-thesis project (1 semester) Requires more effort from both students

and faculty Requires more data:

Larger sample sizes w/ different treatments groups

Multiple parameters measured, and statistically analyzed

A thesis should be publishable, and you would gladly put your name on it

This will be harder than just doing the project yourself

Thesis Completion ScheduleThesis Completion Schedule(-14 weeks) stop collection data/information(-14 weeks) statistics, graphs & tables (software?)(-12 weeks) 1st assembled draft to advisor(-10 weeks) 1st assembled draft back from advisor(-9 weeks) 2nd draft to advisor(-7 weeks) 2nd draft back from advisor(-6 weeks) 3rd draft to committee(-4 weeks) 3rd draft back from committee(-3 weeks) “defendable draft” to committee(-1 week) oral presentation and/or oral defense (if

required)Thesis Deadline for semester (late Apr & Nov, mid-

July)

Commit to working hard (this is your “job”)

Welcome challenges Ask for help when you need it, but be

willing to work independently Respect your mentor’s expertise: seek

and follow advice/guidance regularly Respect your mentor’s time: do your best

before asking for help Be part of the departmental “family”

Graduate CollegeGraduate CollegeExpectation of StudentExpectation of Student

I don’t guess I mind beavers being as I don’t guess I mind beavers being as busy as they are….busy as they are….

…….but sometimes I think they’re just .but sometimes I think they’re just flaunting it. .flaunting it. .

Jack Handey, Deep ThoughtsJack Handey, Deep Thoughts

You’ll be busy. Will you be balanced?You’ll be busy. Will you be balanced?