Mentoring—A Relationship Based on Trust: Qualitative Research

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferda Erdem ◽  
Janset Özen Aytemur
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academic Organizations ◽  
University Culture ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Different Dimensions

The study reported in this article aimed to explore the trust protégés felt for their mentors and the effects different dimensions of relationships that can influence this trust in mentoring relationships within academic organizations. The questions defined for this research regarded which dimensions of professional relationships actually do influence protégés' trust, which of those underlying dimensions make trust stronger, and the results the trust protégés felt for their mentor produced in terms of the function of mentoring. The interview form used to answer these questions consisted of two parts. The first part included general questions on the characteristics of mentors and protégés and the functions of mentoring. The second part included 24 questions designed specifically to identify the underlying elements of trust in mentoring relationships. The dimensions specifically were competence, consistency, communication, interest taken in the protégé, fairness, and sharing of control. Thirty-two protégés agreed to take part in the structured interviews, and the total time spent on interviews was 35 hours. The study revealed that among the elements necessary for the building of trust in one's professional mentor, sharing of control and fair behavior were dimension of the mentoring relationship that protégés had positive perceptions and experiences of. Another important finding in terms of positive and negative perceptions was that protégés identify their positive perceptions more with the personal efforts of their mentor. Negative perceptions were seen to be related to factors such as faculty and university culture, legal matters and regulations, law and regulations creating rigid university procedures, and mentors' and protégés' personal characteristics.

Paths to perdition: exploring the trajectories of care staff who have abused older people in their care

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Moore
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Negative Perceptions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present findings from face-to-face interviews with three former care staff who were proven to have abused some of the older people living in the care and nursing homes in which they had once worked. The research sought to explore the intra-personal dynamics, personal characteristics and work experiences that led these staff to perpetrate abuse. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with three former care and nursing home staff who had committed abusive acts and the data secured subjected to thematic narrative analysis. Findings None of the three people interviewed had intended to become care staff and reported that the interview and induction processes they experienced did little to establish their suitability for the work they would be undertaking or to prepare them for its demands. Participants expressed their generally negative perceptions of older people, particularly those living with dementia, and told of how they also felt that they were under pressure to conform with the often abusive care home regimes that they had entered. They also recounted some specific abusive practices developed to allow them to manage the constant tension between the time available to complete all of the tasks required when “caring” for older people, and revealed their perceptions of external scrutiny of care home conduct and the behaviours developed to deflect the effectiveness of this oversight. Two interview participants also revealed their unfavourable attitudes to some of the people they were employed to care for that were based upon perceptions of ethnic differences, and of how this had contributed to the abuse they perpetrated. Research limitations/implications Though the research draws upon the experiences of only three former care staff, the data reveal some of the intra-personal dimensions of individual staff who have engaged in abusive acts, and illuminates how the care home environment with which they interact can engender conditions under which abuse is more likely to occur. Originality/value Unusually, the paper explores the characteristics, perceptions and experiences of care staff who have actually committed abusive acts against those entrusted to their care.

scholarly journals Feeling Better: Experiences and Needs of Adolescents and Professionals Regarding Their Mentoring Relationship in Residential Youth Care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemiek T. Harder ◽  
Annika Eenshuistra ◽  
Erik J. Knorth
Keyword(s):  
Youth Care ◽  
Group Care ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Care Group ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Residential Youth Care ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background In residential youth care, group care workers and teachers often serve as a mentor for individual adolescents. Although favorable mentoring relationships are associated with positive adolescent outcomes, few studies examined the role of mentoring in residential youth care. Objective The present study aims to assess adolescents’, care workers’ and teachers’ mentoring relationship needs in terms of their one-on-one conversations during residential care. Methods We conducted structured interviews with eleven adolescents, ten group care workers and two teachers and content analysis to assess the data Results All respondents are rather satisfied with their conversations, which are often concerned with how the adolescent is doing. Adolescents mostly consider their family and home-situation as difficult topics, while care workers mostly consider sexuality as a difficult topic to talk about. Although ‘improvement’ with the youth is often the aim, most adolescents report that they do not (know if they) show changes because of these conversations. Moreover, only one of the twelve professionals thinks that it is his core task to achieve behavior change with the adolescents. According to the professionals, conversations often aim at building a good relationship, coaching, determining treatment goals, and gaining insight into the adolescent. Adolescents prefer a mentor who is calm, has respect, listens, and is reluctant in giving advice. Most professionals do not use a specific method and doubt whether they want to have conversations according to a manual or support tool. Conclusions Despite being rather satisfied, adolescents and professionals indicate several points for improvement of one-on-one conversations.

scholarly journals Influence of national culture on mentoring relationship: a qualitative study of Japanese physician-scientists

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruo Obara ◽  
Takuya Saiki ◽  
Rintaro Imafuku ◽  
Kazuhiko Fujisaki ◽  
Yasuyuki Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
National Cultures ◽  
Doctoral Research ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
Organizational Continuity ◽  
Physician Scientists

Abstract Background Nurturing of physician-scientists is an important mission of academic medical institutes. Although the importance of mentorship in developing future physician-scientists internationally is well established, not much information is available about how they are mentored and how national cultures influence the mentoring relationship. This study explores the cultural characteristics of mentoring relationships between senior mentors and junior mentees of Japanese physician-scientists. Method A qualitative approach has been employed to explore mentoring relationships of Japanese physician-scientists from cultural viewpoints, through semi-structured interviews with 17 mentees who had the experience of working overseas as post-doctoral research fellow. The reflection of their experiences and the perception of mentoring relationships before going abroad were thematically analyzed by applying Hofstede’s model of six cultural dimensions as a theoretical framework. Results Twelve characteristic themes for mentoring were observed, including trustworthy dependency on mentor, embracing paternalistic mentoring, mentee’s initiative within expectations of mentor based on power distance, a sense of loyalty to mentor/organization/colleagues, family-like relationship with mentor based on collectivism, sense of security on being led by mentor through uncertainty avoidance, motivation by role modeling for the competitive academic world, and adaption of female mentee/mentor to a male-dominated academic structure based on masculinity, a long-term relationship between mentor and mentee, receiving advice for organizational continuity based on long-term orientation, putting work before leisure, and friendly relationship between mentor and mentee outside of work based on indulgence. Conclusions This study identified the characteristic mentoring relationships of postgraduate mentees of Japanese physician-scientists. Considering the importance of mentoring for physician-scientists in a globalized society, understanding the characteristics of national cultures would help in ensuring culture-sensitive mentoring and would contribute to the development of academic medicine.

scholarly journals “Taking the most delicate care”: Beginnings of a Mentoring Relationship between Teachers and Coaches in an Australian School

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Southcott ◽  
Karen Marangio ◽  
Donna Rady ◽  
Maria Gindidis
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Australian School ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Program Success ◽  
Professional Coaching ◽  
Great Complexity

We explore the beginnings of professional coaching/mentoring relationships between teachers and university mentors in an Australian school. Often overlooked, initial steps are crucial, holding the seeds of eventual success or failure. Our mentoring program was undertaken in a large, independent, co-educational school in suburban Melbourne, Victoria. In our constructivist study, underpinned by our desire to explore on the lived experiences of others, we report on the understandings of three of the mentors/researchers and the teachers that they worked with. We gathered data from teacher-written statements and mentor journals. Using thematic analysis, we developed our findings, performing epoché as we hold both insider and outsider mentor/researcher perspectives. We present our findings under two broad headings: The prior understandings held by all and addresses positions, assertions and anticipations; and First meetings, finding accords, noticing resistances, and recognizing difficulties. We found that the apparent simplicity of first steps masked great complexity. No one entered the first meeting as an “empty vessel.” Some relationships were more problematic than others. Our goals as transformational educator/mentors were to foster deep collaborative, professional relationships with our mentees but were hampered by inherent differences of understanding with the school who sought transactional coaches. Clarity in intent from the outset is crucial to program success.

FOSTERING STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES IN ENGLISH WRITING WITH MICROBLOGGING IN TWITTER

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Pham Thi Thu Hien
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology

Twitter and Microblogging are two separate entities but completes each other. Both of them can be used as language learning tools and their potential has been proved by several scholars. This study tries to examine students’ experiences in integrating microblogging with twitter. It is also study about the beneficial roles of microblogging with Twitter in language learning, its relation to writing, and its appropriateness in language learning. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, and case study as its research design. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were employed in this study to find out about participants' views about microblogging and Twitter. From this study, it can be concluded that the participants of the study underwent various experiences during the implementation of microblogging with Twitter. They also felt that microblogging with Twitter at some point advantages them to systematically arrange their ideas, and allows them to choose appropriate diction of their ideas. They also stated that Twitter can be an appropriate means in language learning, especially in English writing<em>.</em>

Management of Records in Adapted Buildings as Records Centres in Zimbabwe

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Mutsagondo ◽  
Getrude Maduyu ◽  
Godfrey Tsvuura
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Personal Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Professional Management ◽  
The Government

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.

UKRAINIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN CANADA: CULTURAL CAPITAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Antony-Newman
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
University Students ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Educational Experiences ◽  
Pierre Bourdieu ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Print Access

This qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with Ukrainian university students in Canada helps to understand their educational experience using the concept of cultural capital put forward by Pierre Bourdieu. It was found that Ukrainian students possess high levels of cultural capital, which provides them with advantage in Canada. Specific patterns of social inequality and state-sponsored obstacles to social reproduction lead to particular ways of acquiring cultural capital in Ukraine represented by a more equitable approach to the availability of print, access to extracurricular activities, and popularity of enriched curriculum. Further research on cultural capital in post-socialist countries is also discussed.

scholarly journals Exploring the consequences of teachers’ self-efficacy: a case of teachers of English as a foreign language

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Goudarz Alibakhshi ◽  
Fariborz Nikdel ◽  
Akram Labbafi
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Research Method ◽  
Burn Out ◽  
Efl Teachers

AbstractTeacher self-efficacy has been abundantly studied. However, it seems that the consequences of teachers’ self-efficacy have not been appropriately explored yet. The research objective was to investigate the consequences of teachers’ teaching self-efficacy. The researchers used a qualitative research method. They collected the data through semi-structured interviews with 20 EFL teachers who were selected through purposive sampling. The interviews were content analyzed thematically. Findings showed that self-efficacy has different consequences: pedagogical, learner-related, and psychological. Each consequence has several sub-categories. It is concluded that high self-efficacy affects teachers’ teaching practices, learners’ motivation, and achievement. It also affects teachers’ burn-out status, psychological being, as well as their job satisfaction. The findings can be theoretically and pedagogically important to EFL teachers, teacher-trainers, and administrators of educational settings.

scholarly journals Conservation Debates: People’s Perceptions and Values towards a Privately Protected Area in Southern Ecuador

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Verónica Iñiguez-Gallardo ◽  
Fabián Reyes-Bueno ◽  
Olga Peñaranda
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Southern Ecuador ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Land Tenure System

The perceptions and values that local communities have towards protected areas are of great value for the improvement of these territories’ management. Such perceptions and values are often absent in the conservation planning process, particularly in those privately protected areas that are established in areas where the land tenure system is based not only on ownership but also on customary uses. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and members of communities surrounding a privately protected area in southern Ecuador, we identify that the level of collaboration with the managers, the distance to the protected area, the percentage of untitled land, and the dependence on the resources (customary uses) are among the variables affecting these perceptions and values. Positive perceptions towards protected areas and naturalistic values are developed among those who collaborate with the protected area managers, whereas negative perceptions, and a mix of naturalistic and biospheric values are developed among those who have a sense of a lack of attention to social needs although supporting nature conservation at the same time. The evidence presented shows the importance of matching local peoples’ expectations with conservation goals during the establishment of a protected area.

Familial Interdependence, Socioeconomic Disadvantage, and the Formation of Familial Mentoring Relationships Within Black Families

2020 ◽  
pp. 074355842097912
Author(s):  
Janelle T. Billingsley ◽  
Ariana J. Rivens ◽  
Noelle M. Hurd
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Black Families ◽  
Socioeconomic Disadvantage ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Disadvantaged Youth ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Mixed Method Design

This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-method design to explore the association between familial interdependence and familial mentoring relationship presence within black families. This study also examined how socioeconomic disadvantage may moderate the association between familial interdependence and familial mentoring presence. A sample of 216 black youth (59% girls; 41% boys) were surveyed, and a subsample of 25 participants were interviewed along with one of their parents, and one nonparental familial adult with whom the youth reported feeling emotionally close to learn more about the enactment of familial interdependence and the formation of familial mentoring relationships across social class. Logistic regression analyses revealed that greater valuing of familial interdependence was associated with a greater likelihood of having a familial mentoring relationship, but this association was present only among nonsocioeconomically disadvantaged youth. Data collected from participant interviews were analyzed to better understand this pattern of findings. These analyses provided some preliminary insights into why familial interdependence may predict familial mentor formation only among nonsocioeconomically disadvantaged youth. Implications of study findings for the promotion of familial mentoring relationships within black families are discussed.

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