The Role of Expectations in the Mentoring Exchange: An Analysis of Mentor and Protege Expectations in Relation to Perceived Support

摘要

The role of expectations in the mentoring process was examined by testing antecedent factors such as need for achievement, need for power, opportunities for mentoring, and perceived reward structures in relation to expectations formed for a mentoring partner. The relationship between expectations for mentoring support and perceptions of support received was also examined. Samples comprised of data from dissertation chairs in the mentor role and doctoral students or recent graduates in the protege role were used to test hypotheses. Findings indicated that female proteges and proteges with higher need for achievement formed higher expectations of a mentor than did male proteges and proteges with a lower need for achievement. In addition, proteges who perceived more opportunities for mentoring formed higher expectations for social support than did proteges perceiving few mentoring opportunities. The relationship between expectations formed for a mentoring partner and perceptions of support received was significant and positive for both mentors and proteges. Implications and suggestions for future research and practice are discussed in detail.