University: The Supervisory Process in Speech-Language Pathology: Graduate Students’ Perspective

Abstract

Supervision is a critical component of graduate education in communication sciences and disorders. Students spend a large amount of time with their supervisors, who guide them through clinical experiences in graduate school. Thus, students believe certain supervisor characteristics may enhance or inhibit their success as a student clinician. This study investigated the opinions of graduate students about the supervisor behaviors and attributes that create a positive supervisory experience. Twenty-three students in the graduate Communication Disorders Program at Georgia State University completed a survey regarding their thoughts and opinions on the supervisory process. The results of the study indicated that students prefer supervisors who are knowledgeable and supportive and who create a collegial atmosphere for supervisory conferences. The results further suggested that supervisors should provide timely feedback to supervisees in a written or face-to-face form. The results of this study can be used to offer advice to clinical supervisors on the types of feedback and interpersonal characteristics that can maximize the student clinician's success.