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students Dale, 2010. If students are not able to use the feedback to produce improved work by re-doing the same assignment, no one will know that it has
been effective Boud, 2000. Some studies report that elaborative feedback produces significantly greater learning among students compared with feedback
containing less information Moreno, 2004; Pridemore Klein; 1995; Shute, 2006.
There are three essential elements of effective feedback: recognition of desired goal, evidence about present position, and some understanding of a way to
close the gap between two Sadler, 1989; Black
William, 1998. The
effectiveness of feedback is influenced by a number of factors, including the ability of students to self-assess, giving students clear goals and criteria, and
setting out expected standards; the encouragement of teacher and peer dialogue around learning; closure of the ‗feedback loop‘; the provision of quality feedback
information; and the encouragement in students of positive motivational beliefs and self-esteem Nicol Macfarlane-Dick, 2006.
In this research, effective f eedback is ―positive, consistent, timely and
clear, with a balance between positive and constructive comments and comments that critiqued their work‖ Bitchener et al., 2011. The effectiveness of feedback is
applicable for the feedback strategy and contents discussed in 2.2.5 and 2.2.6.
2.2.4. Feedback Providers and Receivers
As supervision involves feedback providers as supervisors, it is important to discuss how they fit together in the supervision. This section discusses selecting
feedback providers as supervisors, responsibilities of supervisors and students as feedback receivers, students and supervisors relationship.
2.2.4.1. Selecting Supervisors
Feedback supervisors as providers are selected or decided by either or both students and the management of institution. Students as feedback receivers
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should know the criteria for the right thesis supervisors. Although an academician may have high reputation or be famous at his institution, students still need to be
careful to select and decide a supervisor. Bolker in Emilia 2008, p. 35 reminds:
My first dissertation advisor was quite famous, but I quickly discovered that her students often had a hard time graduating,
and that she appeared to compete with them and put obstacles in their paths. I remember the moment at which I realized that if I
remained her advisee,
I‘d never finish. If choosing a politically advantageous, famous advisor makes it unlikely that you‘ll
complete your degree, it‘s clearly not worth it. The reputation of a selected supervisor does not guarantee the successful
contribution to the thesis quality but to have supervisors whose expertise matches with student‘s topic of interest is more important. In a study of the research
supervision process, Eggleston Delamont 1983 state that the matching of student to supervisor for effective relationships is crucially important. Unluckily,
the application of selecting a supervisor is often done in an unplanned manner, which can become one of the reasons for regret, lack of motivation, and poor
quality of research output Ray, 2007. The right or wrong selection of supervisors will contribute to the success or failure of the supervision. Completing a thesis
including the delayed completion of thesis depends on the supervisors Garcia et al., 1988. For those reasons, Odgen in Emilia 2008, pp. 33-34 points out:
With the RIGHT adviser, you advance steadily around to collect your degree on schedule, proud of your work you have produced.
With the WRONG adviser, you will take very wrong route around the board, hit every dead end, advance one step only, two fall back
two steps, and continually run the risk of falling off the board completely. Researching your adviser therefore is the MOST
important research you will do concerning your dissertation
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It is expected that students are able to select the right and effective supervisors. James and Baldwin 1999 point out that effective supervisors are to:
a ensure the partnership is right for the project; b get to know students and carefully assess their needs; c establish reasonable agreed expectations; d work
with students to establish a strong conceptual structure and research plan; e encourage students to write early and often; f initiate regular contact and provide
high-quality feedback; g get students involved in the life of the department; h inspire and motivate; i help if academic and personal crises crop up; j take an
active interest in students future careers; and k carefully monitor the final productionpresentation of the research. However, Professor Aminudin Aziz in
Leo 2013 states that many supervisors have ‗insufficient competence‘ Ilmu Ajug. Ajug is an old traditional lamp which is able to give minimum light to the
surrounding area. Ideally, a supervisor must have bright light sufficient competence in order to give bright ideas to students.
Each supervisor is unique and has their own styles. It is hard to match their styles with students‘ styles. Ray 2007, p. 26 in his study on selecting a
dissertation supervisor suggests nine key characteristics of a good supervisor who is ready to support students having a high level of dependency to a high level of
autonomy. The characteristics mentioned are that the supervisor: a is open to ideas and is flexible about adopting alternative approaches; b is conscious about
time taken for completion and is generally willing to work towards it; c has ability to help the candidate in obtaining a suitable job after completion of
dissertation; d matches of interest with the student‘s; e has high reputation in
his field; f is cordial and understanding relationship; g possesses social network and relationship with other supervisors in the institute and outside; h
will support the student in contentious situations, and defend his stand once it has been agreed upon previously; i guides a number of thesis, the more the better;
and j is enthusiastic in guiding the thesis. These key characteristics should be
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able to be shown in the roles and responsibility of supervisors, responsibilities of students and their relationship.
In this study, the effective selected supervisors are the ones chosen in a planned manner and
they match with students‘ topics of interest. They are open to ideas and flexible about adopting alternative approaches and also conscious about
time taken for completion.
2.2.4.2. Responsibilities of Supervisors
