A qualitative examination of graduate advising relationships: The advisee perspective.

Sixteen 3rd-year counseling psychology doctoral students were interviewed about their relationships with their graduate advisors. Of those students, 10 were satisfied and 6 were unsatisfied with their advising relationships. Satisfied and unsatisfied students differed on several aspects of the advising relationship, including (a) the ability to choose their advisors, (b) the frequency of meetings with their advisors, (c) the benefits and costs associated with their advising relationships, and (d) how conflict was dealt with in the advising relationship. Furthermore, all of the satisfied students reported that their advising relationships became more positive over time, whereas many of the unsatisfied students reported that their advising relationships got worse (e.g., became more distant) over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Advisee nondisclosures in doctoral-level advising relationships.

Using a sample of 109 doctoral-level advisees, we examined the content of and reasons for advisee nondisclosures and the relationships between these variables and advising relationship and satisfaction. Discovery-oriented qualitative analyses revealed several themes related to content of advisee nondisclosures (e.g., self-efficacy) and reasons for these nondisclosures (e.g., fear of damaging advising relationship). Quantitative analyses revealed advisor–advisee rapport was related to advisee fears of being perceived as unprofessional, and identification with advisor was related to advisor's availability and dependability. Unclear advisor expectations, lack of support, and unavailability of the advisor were all related to satisfaction with the advising relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)