Living in the Same World? Supervisors’ and Doctoral Students’ Perceptions of Resources and Challenges in the Doctoral Journey

• In Event: Exploring Processes Involved in Doctoral Education

Abstract

This study explores the fit between the doctoral students and their working environment by analyzing students’ and supervisors’ perceptions of resources and challenges in the doctoral journey. The data were collected with online surveys. Altogether 1184 doctoral students and 431 supervisors completed the survey. The results suggested that the fit between the doctoral students and supervisors perceptions about the resources and challenges is linked with the doctoral students’ experienced satisfaction with their studies and supervisory relationship: The students in faculties of fit or partial fit reported themselves to be more satisfied with their overall study process and supervision. Our findings indicate that fit between students and their working environment is related to students’ experiences of their doctoral process.

Authors

• Jenna Tuomainen, University of Helsinki

• Kirsi Maria Pyhalto, University of Helsinki

• Jenni Stubb, University of Helsinki