Doctoral research experience in Malaysia

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the qualities of supervisors on supervision. Students’ supervision experience, conceptualised in terms of 13 tasks, was compared based on the qualities of supervisors in terms of interpersonal skills, experience in research, academic skills, experience in supervision and academic subject knowledge. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysed by Rasch Modelling was used to ascertain the effect of each of the qualities on supervision. Significant DIF was found in four of the 13 supervision tasks for interpersonal skills, two tasks for experience in research, three tasks for academic skills, three tasks for experience in supervision, and two tasks for academic subject knowledge. Providing constructive feedback was found to be an important supervisory skill that students needed for their progress. Supervisors with good interpersonal skills, extensive experience in research and supervision, academic skills and academic subject knowledge provided more constructive feedback on their students’ progress. © 2015, Southeast Asian Association for Institutional Research. All rights reserved.