A Grounded Theory Model of Advisor Trustworthiness: From a First-Generation Student Perspective

• In Event: First-Generation College Students

Abstract

Student success for first-generation students is reliant on learning about and utilizing campus resources. Learning about such resources is often not as challenging as navigating campus services, so why do students trust some resources and not others? This grounded theory study uses 17 focus groups of over 60 first-generation college students to investigate how students conceptualize trustworthiness of advisors. Based on participant data, we developed a model of advisor trustworthiness that involves unique qualities (knowledgeable, relational, and used a holistic approach) and three behaviors (inviting, informing, and advocating). And for some students, contextual influences such as identity-matching (academic and social) helped increase ease of trusting an advisor. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research and implications for practice.

Authors

• Jeffrey K. Grim, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Adan Hussain, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Emma Bausch, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Steven Lonn, University of Michigan

• Ann Hower, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor