Editing Introduction to Graduate Research (Fall 2023) (section)

=== Week 3: 10.04 ===

[[Introduction to Graduate Research (Fall 2023)/Week 3|Session plan]]

'''Challenge: Who do you work with?''' Cultivating effective mentoring relationships and collaborations

'''Guests:'''
* Nathan Walter ([https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285748/download?download_frd=1 CV])

==== Readings ====
* Adams, Rachel. 2023. [https://www.chronicle.com/article/when-mentors-fail-us When mentors fail us]. ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'', March 13.
* Lee, A., Dennis, C. & Campbell, P. 2007. [https://doi.org/10.1038/447791a Nature's guide for mentors]. ''Nature'' 447, 791–797. https://doi.org/10.1038/447791a
* The Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan. 2020. [https://rackham.umich.edu/downloads/student-mentoring-handbook.pdf Graduate student mentoring guide] (pdf). University of Michigan.
* Walter, Nathan, et al. Unpublished ms. [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285782/download?download_frd=1 Ushering in an age of communication science principles] (via Canvas). 

==== Written work and activities ====
'''1. Submit a discussion provocation.'''

'''2. Advising reflection''': Write a brief (~500-800 word?) reflection on your advising relationship thus far. Be sure to address the following:
* What elements of a positive advising/mentoring relationship (identified in the readings or not) strike you as particularly important to cultivate with your faculty advisor?
* Assess your current advising relationship with respect to the elements you identify as most important (and others, if you wish).
* Articulate a plan for how you propose to improve and/or sustain a positive advising/mentoring relationship with your faculty advisor. 
* Identify other potential sources of mentoring and support that can complement this plan.

'''3. Collaboration interview + reflection:''' Find a more advanced graduate student who has published at least one paper with at least one coauthor (may be their advisor or not). Conduct a short (30 minutes or so?) open-ended interview using the questions below as a guide. Make sure to take notes (or record the conversation with permission). Write up the key findings from your interview in about 500-800 words. Be sure to emphasize any key takeaways or insights that you found especially new, surprising, or confusing.
* How were responsibilities divided in this collaboration (who was responsible for what)? 
* How were decisions made about who would be responsible for what?
* How did you and your collaborator(s) manage your work across different stages of the project (from research design through data collection, analysis, writing up, reference management, peer review, and publication/dissemination)? 
* What social/technical systems did you use to manage your work across different stages of the project?
* What went well in this collaboration? 
* What would you change next time you collaborate (with the same coauthor(s) or others)?

'''4. Submit both written texts [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/courses/196467/assignments/1288046 via Canvas].''' (Due Monday, October 2 6pm CT)

'''5. Exchange and discuss written submissions with a partner''' (to-be assigned in class on September 27). Note that you should exchange writings and meet ''outside class'' to discuss each others' perspectives before we meet this week. Please also note that our class discussion in class will begin with report-outs from the small group discussions. If you would like discussion prompts, here are some ideas:
* What did you notice about each other's reflections on advising and collaboration? 
* Were there any common threads? Any (surprising) divergences?
* What takeaways do you have about advising/mentoring and collaboration based on these exercises?
* What questions do you have about advising/mentoring and collaboration based on these exercises?

==== Recommended readings ==== 
* The Graduate School Administrative Board, Northwestern University. 2018. [https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/documents/services-support/guidance-graduate-student-and-faculty-adviser-relationships.pdf Guidance for positive graduate student faculty advisor relationships] (pdf).
* The Graduate School, Northwestern University. 2011. [https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/documents/services-support/graduate-expectations-nov-2011.pdf Graduate Student Expectations Document] (pdf).
* Hargittai, Eszter. 2010. [https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2010/08/27/case-collaboration The Case for Collaboration]. ''Inside Higher Ed: Ph.Do column'', August 27.
* Lazarsfeld, Paul F. and Robert K. Merton. 1948. [https://canvas.northwestern.edu/files/17285834/download?download_frd=1 Mass communication, popular taste, and organized social action]. (''Walter influence'').