Investigating Graduate Student's Criteria in Selecting Supervisors

Abstract: Choosing a thesis supervisor is one of the most important choices of the graduate students. Students often select their supervisors regarding some criteria. This study examines students’ criteria for selecting their supervisors. The statistical sample consisted of 63 Ph.D. students and graduates (MSc.) at Zanjan University, Faculty of Agriculture, in the academic year 1393-1394. The survey instrument was a questionnaire, the validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of academic experts. Pre-test and calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to measure the reliability (0, 93). The results showed that students’ criteria in selecting supervisor were summarized into six factors; professor’s literacy levels and the degree of collaboration, commitment and teacher support, research experience, personality traits and how to treat students, the ability to identify experts, and academic rank or executive posts. 61% of the total variance of students’ criteria in selecting supervisor was explained by these six factors.