Are You my Mentor? Identifying Mentors and Their Roles in LIS Doctoral Education

摘要

This study evaluates the assumption of whether or not one can equate mentoring and advising in doctoral education, with a focus on the field of Library and Information Science. Furthermore, this study examines the presence of multiple mentors in doctoral education and their interrelationships and roles. Findings from the study suggest that the advisor serves as the primary and dominant mentor in doctoral education, with dissertation committee members serving in a secondary, yet purposive, role. Evidence is provided that the acknowledged mentoring roles are more attuned to career, over psychosocial, mentoring. Doctoral student colleagues appeared to provide mentoring in the form of role modeling and idea sharing. The implications for doctoral education are discussed.