Classification and framing in postgraduate education

ABSTRACT The quality of supervision received by postgraduate students has been seen as a considerable problem in a growing number of research reports. This paper takes the view that to see the problem in terms of student and supervisor roles obscures more than it clarifies. It is proposed that the concept of classification and framing used by Bernstein can be developed to shed light on the matching process which must be achieved between supervisor and student. The analysis is illustrated by examples taken from a study of postgraduates in experimental physics research.