GTAs as organizational newcomers: The association between supportive communication relationships and information seeking

Abstract

This study explored the components of the assimilation stage of GTA socialization, with a specific focus on the relationship between GTA involvement in supportive communication relationships and GTA use of information‐seeking strategies. Participants were 143 GTAs enrolled at a large midwestern university. Results indicate that (a) GTAs are involved in both peer and mentoring supportive communication relationships, (b) GTAs use the overt information‐seeking strategy at a higher rate than monitoring information‐seeking strategies, and (c) a correlation exists between GTA involvement in supportive communication relationships and GTA use of information‐seeking strategies.