Background
Graduate education is a catalyst for innovation and creativity in a research university. Over 200,000 graduate students are pursuing graduate study in Canada. All thesis-based masters and doctoral students are engaged with a supervisor in a program at a university. It is imperative to gauge the quality of student experiences by seeking their perspectives and feedback on the quality of supervision, program, and university experiences. Graduate student voices can highlight practices, designs, and structures that support their learning, persistence, and progress toward graduation. Student feedback on challenges and barriers to learning encountered during their degrees can be used to identify gaps in supervision, program, and institutional supports, along with informing the development of strategies and interventions that best support student experience and success.
Study Challenges
The primary objectives of the survey research are: 1) to better understand masters and doctoral student experiences and satisfaction with supervision practices, graduate program designs, and university structures, and 2) to inform strategic and systematic improvements in graduate education at the supervisor, program, and institutional level. A rationale for this study is the commitment to leverage graduate student perspectives on their experience to optimize their path to success through informed strategies and interventions.
Notes:
1. How you address the challenge presented above is up to you and your team.
2. We are mostly interested in what are masters and doctoral students' perceptions of and satisfaction with supervision, their graduate program and the University for their graduate school experience.
3. We endeavor to not only improve our instruments and practices but also contribute to the broader research community's understanding of innovative approaches to data analysis and visualization.
4. Our overarching aim is to refine this instrument continuously, with the goal of administering an improved version in the spring of 2024.
Data Source and Access
The case study includes quantitative data from graduate students in a research university in Alberta. The analysis of the substantial datasets collected during this period illuminated gaps in supervision, program offerings, and institutional support within the University.
A web-based survey was conducted with all graduate students in master's and doctoral programs from across disciplines at a research university in Spring 2023. The survey items included a majority of select-response, Likert-type scale items. The survey was presented in several sub-sections: demographics, supervision, communication, milestones, mental health and wellbeing, professional learning, and program/institution.
To obtain this data, you need to make a team registration with a faculty mentor and express participation in the competition to the chair, Dr. Chel Hee Lee <chelhee.lee@ucalgary.ca>. You will then be asked to fill out the confidentiality form. Once the form is submitted and approved by Dr. Lee, you will be guided to contact Dr. Jacobsen for direct data transfer.
Note that the competition data are not allowed for other purposes except preparing this case study presentation. Once the competition is completed, all your team members, including faculty mentors, should inform the chair via email that the data are removed from your working computer and that there is no backup.
Evaluation & Grading Points
Your case study report and poster must include:
1. The research question(s) you sought to address with your analysis.
2. A discussion on the impact of your assumptions and parameters and the limitations of these types of models.
3. At least one visualization needs to be included.
4. A summary of the key takeaways from your analysis.
The case study competition will be evaluated as follows:
1. Creative visualizations of the data (25%)
2. Appropriateness, creativity, and understanding of the strengths and limitations of the model proposed (50%)
3. Quality and clarity of presentation (25%)
Award
We are pleased to announce that the winning team will receive an award of \$1,500. In addition to the financial award, there may be potential for research opportunities/collaborations for the successful team members.
Organizer Contact Information
This case study was prepared by Drs. Michele Jacobsen, Sonja Johnston, Tanille Butler, Alex Paquette, and Chel Hee Lee with help and guidance from the other members of the case study committee of the Statistical Society of Canada. Any concerns and questions can be directed to chelhee.lee@ucalgary.ca.