Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Communication and Storytelling Studies
Date of Award
5-2023
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Christine K. Anzur
Committee Members
Amber E. Kinser, Andrew F. Herrmann
Abstract
This thesis examined the instructor-student relationship through an interpersonal communication perspective. The current thesis took a two-step process to first derive participant-generated responses concerning undergraduate student maintenance behaviors and second to construct and validate a scale concerning those behaviors. Of additional interest was to explore reasons as to why students aim to maintain these relationships. A 16-item measure titled the Student Relational Maintenance Scale was created and consists of making connections, advice seeking, etiquette, and attendance behaviors. Additionally, results revealed that both professional and personal reasons motivated students to build these relationships. Making connections, advice seeking, etiquette, and attendance behaviors were positively related to students having professional goals; advice seeking, etiquette, and attendance were positively related to students having personal goals. The results of this thesis provided further insight into how and why undergraduate college students build positive interpersonal connections with their instructors.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Napier, Emily N., "Student Relational Maintenance with Instructors: Scale Development and Validation" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4183. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4183
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.