title: A Marriage of Convenience? A qualitative study of colleague supervision of Master's level dissertations.
abstract: The focus of this study is colleague supervision of Master's level dissertations. A qualitative study was undertaken and in-depth interviews with research supervisors (n=7) and students (n=7) who had experienced colleague supervision of masters' level dissertations in the previous four years were undertaken. Independent 'outsider' researchers were deployed to undertake the interviews. A thematic content analysis approach was utilised and an analogy of a 'Marriage of Convenience' was used to describe the various dimensions and significant chronological events of the student/supervisor relationship. Four data themes were identified and included: 'Match making and betrothal', 'Soul mates or not', 'Married life' and 'Giving birth'. The study's findings give rise to a number of recommendations that will be of interest to all healthcare educators who are involved in supervision of colleagues' academic research activities.
authors.affiliation: Evidence-Based Practice Research Centre, Edge Hill University, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirton
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Straker
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jinks
mesh_terms: D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic; D000328:Adult; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015399:Nursing Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006113:United Kingdom