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Formal/ businesslike<br />

If you keep your discussions concise and on-point, that is, if you hardly ever discuss anything apart from your PhD<br />

topic, research proposal and design, research mechanism and tools as well the philosophy behind framing the<br />

research hypothesis, then yours is a businesslike or formal <strong>relationship</strong>. Note that these discussions usually take<br />

place within the campus premises and preferably at the <strong>supervisor</strong>’s office or the university library, rarely ever<br />

venturing into general topics like the weather or your families. Inviting you over to his house for dinner or showing an<br />

active interest in your philatelic pursuits are not usual occurrences in this kind of <strong>relationship</strong>.<br />

Pros: Increased efficiency in delivering the tasks, more time devoted to the research topic and areas of focus, and<br />

careful consideration of the submission deadlines<br />

Cons: Too formal <strong>relationship</strong>s leading to increased dissent regarding the research areas, research design and<br />

methodology as well as missing out on networking opportunities with academic contemporaries<br />

Informal/ personal<br />

The informal or personal <strong>relationship</strong> structure of the <strong>supervisor</strong>-<strong>scholar</strong> <strong>relationship</strong> is a wholly different world where<br />

your <strong>supervisor</strong> treats you more like a friend than a <strong>scholar</strong> pursuing his PhD under his guidance. If you meet over<br />

drinks, discuss politics, family, and he has introduced you to the contemporary academics of his time and field, then<br />

you two share a camaraderie that is quite sought-after and hard to <strong>com</strong>e by. However, in these kinds of <strong>relationship</strong>s,<br />

the discussions on work tend to take a backseat and might be ignored for days. In these kinds of <strong>relationship</strong>s, you will<br />

share a greater level of frankness with your <strong>supervisor</strong> and have a healthy exchange of ideas on practically all topics<br />

under the sun, bringing in a refreshing working ambience for both of you. While it can be fulfilling in many aspects,<br />

these kinds of <strong>relationship</strong>s require a lot of effort from both the <strong>supervisor</strong> and the <strong>scholar</strong> to keep track of the<br />

academic aspects of the PhD in check.<br />

Pros: More free and healthy exchange of ideas and developing a bond that can be cherished for a lifetime<br />

Cons: Lackadaisical attitude on behalf of both the <strong>supervisor</strong> and the <strong>scholar</strong>, resulting in sloppiness and tardiness in<br />

submission<br />

These variables significantly influence the power dynamics of the <strong>relationship</strong> between the <strong>scholar</strong> and <strong>supervisor</strong>.<br />

While sharing drinks with your <strong>supervisor</strong> over healthy discussions on world politics might seem like an alluring idea,<br />

there have been instances of <strong>supervisor</strong>s taking undue advantage of all kinds (from unpaid babysitting jobs for their<br />

kids to sleazy proposals of taking the <strong>relationship</strong> to a whole ‘new’ level) from the <strong>scholar</strong>s. On the other hand, too<br />

stand-offish and distant level of interaction between the two hampers the free flow of ideas and healthy exchange of<br />

points of view that is necessary for an academic pursuit of the higher levels.<br />

Type of task execution<br />

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