Relationship of Graduate Students with their Academic Supervisors: A Study of Public and Private Sector Universities of Pakistan

Abstract

This study is aimed to observe different aspects of working relationship between supervisees with their academic supervisors from the supervisees’ perspective. Respondents were inquired about networking, instrumental, and psychosocial help received from their supervisors; their satisfaction level with their supervisors; and about their behavioural intentions. Supervisees’ satisfaction was used as a mediator here. A descriptive study was carried out in public and private sector universities. Respondents were 350 MS and PhD level students. Linear Regression was used to analyze relationships among variables. Full mediation was observed in private sector universities, whereas partial mediation was found in public sector universities. Independent sample t-test was employed to observe significant mean differences between public and private sector universities. Significant mean scores differences were observed in independent samples t-test in instrumental and psychosocial help between these two types of universities.