Creating a Healthy Research Culture Through Effective Supervision

This chapter examines the role that supervisors have on doctoral researchers’ experience. We argue that supervisors are fundamental in creating healthy research cultures within which doctoral researchers can develop and achieve. There is strong evidence that the quality of supervisor-student relationships is central to promoting doctoral researcher health and wellbeing. Moreover, poor relationships can exacerbate problems and prevent effective help-seeking. In this chapter we examine the multifaceted roles involved in supervision and the different approaches to supervision and supervisor relationships. We uncover the various factors that influence how relationships develop over the course of the doctoral journey and explores how these can impact both positively and negatively on the doctoral researcher and their supervisor’s wellbeing. Throughout recommendations for supervisors and higher education institutions are presented for ways of developing effective interactions and managing challenging situations and potential pinch points in the doctoral researcher journey.