Very helpful answers! Interestingly, the in-person participants seemed to perceive themselves as 'bothering' supervisors more than those working online.
There are some important suggestions here to reassuring students the supervisor isn't too busy for them:
- once again, a trusting relationship that can have open communication
- discussing expectations, boundaries and the role of the supervisor at the outset of the student-supervisor relationship - this includes supervisors reassuring students that one-off questions by email are welcome
- establish in advance several blocks of time for a Skype/collaborate discussion so students know they will receive that time from their supervisor