Giving Thanks: The Relational Context of Gratitude in Postgraduate Supervision

Studies in Higher Education, 35:8, 871-888, 2010

36 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2012

See all articles by Kerrie Unsworth

Kerrie Unsworth

The University of Western Australia

Nick Turner

University of Calgary

Helen Williams

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sarah Piccin-Houle

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Successful postgraduate supervision is often dependent upon the quality of the relationship between postgraduates and their supervisors. This article reports on two studies that focus on grateful affect and grateful expression within low- and high-trust postgraduate–supervisor working relationships. In Study 1, a sample of Canadian postgraduates and supervisors was interviewed to explore the consequences of expressed gratitude and identify supervisory behaviors for which postgraduates are grateful. In Study 2, a sample of Australian postgraduates was surveyed. Results showed that perceptions of supervisors’ altruism and the perceived value of supervisors’ behaviors were positively related to the grateful affect felt by postgraduates in low-trust working relationships. In contrast, perceptions of supervisors’ altruism and the perceived value of supervisors’ behaviors were not related to grateful affect in high-trust working relationships. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords: postgraduate students, postgraduate supervision, positive psychology, relationship, higher degree supervision

Suggested Citation

Unsworth, Kerrie and Turner, Nick and Williams, Helen and Piccin-Houle, Sarah, Giving Thanks: The Relational Context of Gratitude in Postgraduate Supervision (2010). Studies in Higher Education, 35:8, 871-888, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2182322

Kerrie Unsworth (Contact Author)

The University of Western Australia ( email )

35 Stirling Highway
Crawley, Western Australia 6009
Australia

Nick Turner

University of Calgary ( email )

2500 University Drive, NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Canada
(403) 992-6947 (Phone)

Helen Williams

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Sarah Piccin-Houle

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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