Balancing Intention and Action: A Critical Realist Study of Person-Centered Supervision in Professional Doctorates

This study explores the supervisory relationship within professional doctorates through a critical realist lens, foregrounding person-centredness as a core component of effective supervision. Drawing on the POWA model, which conceptualizes humility and person-centered intention, the research investigates how supervisors navigate the complex interplay between intention and action. Using an intensive research design, video-stimulated recall interviews were conducted with four supervisors delivering into a professional doctorate in sport and exercise science. Thematic analysis revealed that person-centered intentions had generative effects on trust-building, autonomy support, and reciprocal care, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining perspective and openness to learning. Findings underscore the role of accurate self-assessment and mentoring in supporting reflexive supervisory practice. By contributing to the limited literature on professional doctorate supervision, this study positions the POWA model as both a pedagogical philosophy and a practical tool with potential relevance across doctoral contexts.