Equilibrium and incentives for supervisor–postgraduate collaborations: A game-theoretic approach
RAIRO - Operations Research - Recherche Opérationnelle, Tome 53 (2019) no. 5, pp. 1729-1747.

In most universities, supervisors collaborate with their postgraduate students in writing papers. As a consequence, the relationship between supervisors and postgraduates in the collaborative work becomes the most important one among various relationships between them. In this paper, using a game model, we show that in the current educational system of China, there is a dilemma between supervisors and their postgraduates for their collaborative work – in most cases, either the supervisor or the students will not spend any effort in their joint work. After that, we also investigate whether the two common incentive strategies, i.e., (i) incentives to students, and (ii) incentives to faculties, can solve this dilemma. Our results show that a university can solve the problem by either (i) just using strong incentives to postgraduate students, or (ii) by using a combination of a normal incentive to students and a strong incentive to faculties. Also, we find that when the incentives to the students and to the faculties are below a certain level, all incentives will be just in vain – neither can they improve the serious relationship between supervisors and their postgraduates, nor can they improve the paper quality.

DOI : 10.1051/ro/2018067
Classification : 91A80
Mots-clés : Stackelberg game, collaborative research, incentives, supervisor–postgraduate relationship
Gou, Qinglong 1 ; Wang, Xinyu 1 ; Zhang, Juzhi 1

1
@article{RO_2019__53_5_1729_0,
     author = {Gou, Qinglong and Wang, Xinyu and Zhang, Juzhi},
     title = {Equilibrium and incentives for supervisor{\textendash}postgraduate collaborations: {A} game-theoretic approach},
     journal = {RAIRO - Operations Research - Recherche Op\'erationnelle},
     pages = {1729--1747},
     publisher = {EDP-Sciences},
     volume = {53},
     number = {5},
     year = {2019},
     doi = {10.1051/ro/2018067},
     mrnumber = {4016529},
     zbl = {1432.91031},
     language = {en},
     url = {http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.1051/ro/2018067/}
}
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Gou, Qinglong
AU  - Wang, Xinyu
AU  - Zhang, Juzhi
TI  - Equilibrium and incentives for supervisor–postgraduate collaborations: A game-theoretic approach
JO  - RAIRO - Operations Research - Recherche Opérationnelle
PY  - 2019
SP  - 1729
EP  - 1747
VL  - 53
IS  - 5
PB  - EDP-Sciences
UR  - http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.1051/ro/2018067/
DO  - 10.1051/ro/2018067
LA  - en
ID  - RO_2019__53_5_1729_0
ER  - 
%0 Journal Article
%A Gou, Qinglong
%A Wang, Xinyu
%A Zhang, Juzhi
%T Equilibrium and incentives for supervisor–postgraduate collaborations: A game-theoretic approach
%J RAIRO - Operations Research - Recherche Opérationnelle
%D 2019
%P 1729-1747
%V 53
%N 5
%I EDP-Sciences
%U http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.1051/ro/2018067/
%R 10.1051/ro/2018067
%G en
%F RO_2019__53_5_1729_0
Gou, Qinglong; Wang, Xinyu; Zhang, Juzhi. Equilibrium and incentives for supervisor–postgraduate collaborations: A game-theoretic approach. RAIRO - Operations Research - Recherche Opérationnelle, Tome 53 (2019) no. 5, pp. 1729-1747. doi : 10.1051/ro/2018067. http://www.numdam.org/articles/10.1051/ro/2018067/

S.R. Adrian-Taylor, K.A. Noels and K. Tischler, Conflict between international graduate students and faculty supervisors: toward effective conflict prevention and management strategies. J. Stud. Int. Edu. 11 (2007) 90–117. | DOI

K.L. Alexander, D.R. Entwisle and C.S. Horsey, From first grade forward: Early foundations of high school dropout. Sociol. Edu. 70 (1997) 87–107. | DOI

J.L. Brockman, A.A. Nunez and A. Basu, Effectiveness of a conflict resolution training program in changing graduate students style of managing conflict with their faculty advisors. Innovative Higher Edu. 35 (2010) 277–293. | DOI

T.R. Burns and A. Gomolińska, The theory of socially embedded games: the mathematics of social relationships, rule complexes, and action modalities. Qual. Quant. 34 (2000) 379–406. | DOI

T.R. Burns, A. Gomolinska and L.D. Meeker, The theory of socially embedded games: applications and extensions to open and closed games. Qual. Quant. 35 (2001) 1–32. | DOI

W. Busch Judith and S. Candace Garrett, Mentoring in graduate schools of education: mentees’ perceptions. J. Exp. Edu. 59 (1991) 165–179. | DOI

S.M. Carr and U.S. Karmarkar, Competition in multiechelon assembly supply chains. Manage. Sci. 51 (2005) 45–59. | DOI | Zbl

E.F. Cataldi and A. Kewalramani, High school dropout and completion rates in the United States: 2007 Compendium report. NCES 2009–064. National Center for Education Statistics (2009).

P. Chiste, Assessing the needs of graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan. Unpublished manuscript, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada (1997).

A.M. Colman, Cooperation, psychological game theory, and limitations of rationality in social interaction. Behav. Brain Sci. 26 (2003) 139–153. | DOI

H. Correa, An economic analysis of class size and achievement in education. Edu. Econ. 1 (1993) 129–135. | DOI

H. Correa, A game theoretic analysis of teacher-student interaction, class size and achievement. Edu. Econ. 34 (1997) 13–38.

H. Correa, Game theory as an instrument for the analysis of international relations. Ritsumeikan Ann. Rev. Int. Stud. 14 (2001) 187–208.

H. Correa, A game theoretical analysis of the educational impact of differences in the abilities and work ethics of teachers and students. J. Socio-Econ. 32 (2003) 249–263. | DOI

H. Correa and G.W. Gruver, Teacher–student interaction: a game theoretic extension of the economic theory of education. Math. Soc. Sci. 13 (1987) 19–47. | DOI

D. Damrosch, We Scholars: Changing the Culture of the University. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (1995). | DOI

C. Devos, G. Boudrenghien, N. Van Der Linden, M. Frenay, A. Azzi, B. Galand and O. Klein, Misfits between doctoral students and their supervisors:(how) are they regulated?. Int. J. Dr. Stud. 11 (2016) 467–486.

S.L. Dika and K. Singh, Applications of social capital in educational literature: a critical synthesis. Rev. Edu. Res. 72 (2002) 31–60. | DOI

P. Gao, L.I. Yuan and W. Zhang, A survey and analysis on the relationship between tutors and graduate students. Sci. Sci. Manage. S & T 28 (2007) 144–147.

J. Gillen, A.D. Ziegler, D.A. Friess and R. Wasson, Geography’s role in nurturing postgraduate students. Geog. J. 181 (2015) 427–431. | DOI

C.M. Golde, Should I stay or should I go? Student descriptions of the doctoral attrition process. Rev. Higher Edu. 23 (2000) 199–227. | DOI

H. Hamburger, Games as Models of Social Phenomena. Edited by W.H. Freeman, San Francisco, CA, 1979.

C.J. Hardy, Nurturing our future through effective mentoring: Developing roots as well as wings aaasp 1993 presidential address. J. Appl. Sport Psychol. 6 (1994) 196–204. | DOI

K. Howells, K. Stafford, R. Guijt and M. Breadmorem, The role of gratitude in enhancing the relationship between doctoral research students and their supervisors. Teach. Higher Edu. 22 (2017) 621–638. | DOI

Hu, Cooperative partnership: a possible relationship for supervisors and postgraduates. Acad. Degr. Grad. Edu. 4 (2014) 7–10.

J.N. Hughes, T.A. Cavell and V. Willson, Further support for the developmental significance of the quality of the teacher–student relationship. J. School Psychol. 39 (2001) 289–301. | DOI

W.B. Johnson and J.M. Huwe, Toward a typology of mentorship dysfunction in graduate school. Psychotherapy: Theory Res. Pract. Train. 39 (2002) 44. | DOI

W.B. Johnson and N. Nelson, Mentor-protégé relationships in graduate training: some ethical concerns. Ethics Behav. 9 (1999) 189–210. | DOI

K. Klomparens, J. Beck, J. Brockman and A. Nunez, Setting expectations and resolving conflicts in graduate education. J. Higher Edu. Strat. 2 (2004) 21–37.

M. Komarraju, S. Musulkin and G. Bhattacharya, Role of student–faculty interactions in developing college students’ academic self-concept, motivation, and achievement. J. Col. Student Dev. 51 (2010) 332–342. | DOI

K.E. Kram, Mentoring at Work: Developmental Relationships in Organizational Life. University Press of America, Lanham, MD (1988).

V.M. Lechuga, Faculty–graduate student mentoring relationships: mentors’ perceived roles and responsibilities. Higher Edu. 62 (2011) 757–771. | DOI

D.J. Levinson, The Seasons of a Man’s Life. Random House Digital Inc, Manhattan, NY (1978).

P. Liu, The research on the relationship between mentor and master student – a case study of Nanjing University. Master’s thesis, Nanjing University, Jiangsu, China (2013).

W. Liu, A study on the supervisor–graduate relationship in the supervisor-funding system. Master’s thesis, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China (2008).

E. Löfström and K. Pyhältö, Ethics in the supervisory relationship: supervisors’ and doctoral students’ dilemmas in the natural and behavioural sciences. Stud. Higher Edu. 42 (2017) 232–247. | DOI

J. Lumby and M. Morrison, Partnership, conflict and gaming. J. Edu. Policy 21 (2006) 323–341. | DOI

M.A. Maher, B.C. Timmerman, D.F. Feldon and D. Strickland, Factors affecting the occurrence of faculty–doctoral student coauthorship. J. Higher Edu. 84 (2013) 121–143. | DOI

S. Mandel, Exploring the differences in expectations between supervisors and supervisees during the initial clinical experience. Perspect. Admin. Supervision 25 (2015) 4–30. | DOI

C. Midgley, H. Feldlaufer and J.S. Eccles, Student/teacher relations and attitudes toward mathematics before and after the transition to junior high school. Child Dev. 60 (1989) 981–992. | DOI

S. Mohebbi and X. Li, Coalitional game theory approach to modeling suppliers’ collaboration in supply networks. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 169 (2015) 333–342. | DOI

M. Nerad and D.S. Miller, Increasing student retention in graduate and professional programs. New Directions Inst. Res. 92 (1996) 61–76. | DOI

G. Owen, Game Theory. 2nd edition. Academic Press, New York, NY (1982). | MR

R.M. Ryan, J.D. Stiller and J.H. Lynch, Representations of relationships to teachers, parents, and friends as predictors of academic motivation and self-esteem. J. Early Adolescence 14 (1994) 226–249. | DOI

R. Spencer, “it’s not what I expected’’ a qualitative study of youth mentoring relationship failures. J. Adolescent Res. 22 (2007) 331–354. | DOI

A. Talebpour, H.S. Mahmassani and S.H. Hamdar, Modeling lane-changing behavior in a connected environment: a game theory approach. Transp. Res. Proced. 7 (2015) 420–440. | DOI

H.R. Tenenbaum, F.J. Crosby and M.D. Gliner, Mentoring relationships in graduate school. J. Vocational Behav. 59 (2001) 326–341. | DOI

A.A. Tsay and N. Agrawal, Channel dynamics under price and service competition. Manuf. Serv. Oper. Manage. 2 (2000) 372–391. | DOI

J. Von Neumann and O. Morgenstern, Theory of Games and Economic Behavior (60th anniversary, commemorative edition). Princeton University Press. Princeton Google Scholar, Princeton, NJ (2007). | DOI | MR | Zbl

K.R. Wentzel, Sociometric status and adjustment in middle school: a longitudinal study. J. Early Adolescence 23 (2003) 5–28. | DOI

K. Xu, C. Ye and T. Ling, An analysis for relationship between supervisors and graduate students. Acad. Degr. Grad. Edu. 2 (2000) 59–62.

Q. Ye and J. Zhang, Innovative research on graduate education quality. In: Engineering Education and Management. Springer, Berlin (2012) 457–460. | DOI

J. Zhang, The research on harmonious relationship between the supervisors and the postgraduates. China Higher Edu. Res. 9 (2007) 19–22.

J. Zhang, Q. Gou, J. Zhang and L. Liang, Supply chain pricing decisions with price reduction during the selling season. Int. J. Prod. Res. 52 (2014) 165–187. | DOI

L. Zhu, A review on the research of the supervisor–postgraduate relationship. Acad. Degr. Grad. Edu. 11 (2011) 61–66.

A.D. Ziegler and J. Gillen, De-mythologizing the faculty–postgraduate writing experience in geography. Geoforum 59 (2015) 129–132. | DOI

Cité par Sources :