Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Mentoring Relationships For The New Graduate Assistant: The Role Of Communication Apprehension And Information Seeking Strategies, Sara Cyr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graduate assistants are in unique positions within the university system as they may teach or conduct research as well as complete their own coursework. As a newcomer, graduate assistants learn about the university's culture and history, the norms and expectations of their peers, and their own job duties. To reduce the uncertainty that surrounds a new environment, a new graduate assistant may enact different information seeking strategies. For example, they may directly ask questions from a supervisor, quietly observe their co-workers, or ask indirect questions about a topic. These strategies can vary from person to person, depending on the type …