A marriage of convenience? A qualitative study of colleague supervision of master's level dissertations

SummaryThe 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.