ERIC Number: EJ1077444
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1475-7257
EISSN: N/A
Peer Mentoring to Develop Psychological Literacy in First-Year and Graduating Students
Burton, Lorelle J.; Chester, Andrea; Xenos, Sophie; Elgar, Karen
Psychology Learning and Teaching, v12 n2 p136-146 Jun 2013
First- and final-year undergraduate students have unique transition issues. To support both the transition of first-year students into the program, and the transition of third-year students out of the program and into the workforce or further study, a face-to-face peer mentoring program was embedded into the first-year psychology curricula at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. The 34 peer mentors, third-year students taking a course on mentoring and career preparation, worked in pairs with small groups of first-year students (N = 231) in class time to help them develop study skills that underpin the first-year assessment tasks. This article reports on a peer mentoring program designed to develop and consolidate psychological literacies of both first- and third-year students. Comparing pre-and post-tests for first-year students, there was a significant increase in self-ratings across 8 of the 9 ability areas used to measure psychological literacy. In contrast, third-year mentors only showed significant change in the ability to understand basic psychological concepts. Correlational data reveal, for mentees, final course grades were significantly correlated with domain-specific psychological literacy, comprising knowledge and understanding of basic psychological concepts, scientific research practices, application of psychology, and ethics; for mentors, final course grades were significantly correlated with general psychological literacy, comprising cultural competence, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and self-awareness skills. While first-year students indicated an overall positive experience with the mentoring program, the third-year mentors showed strong support for the program. The key implications are discussed.
Descriptors: Peer Relationship, Mentors, Pretests Posttests, Comparative Analysis, Undergraduate Students, Psychology, Literacy, Correlation, Career Development, Foreign Countries, Program Descriptions, Grades (Scholastic), Student Attitudes, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Problem Solving, Communication Skills, Scientific Research, Cultural Awareness, Metacognition
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A