Shi-men Organizational Culture and Academic Aspirations of Master’s Degree Students: A Chain Mediation Study in China

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: International Issues in Organizational Culture

Abstract

This study explores how Shi-men (supervisor-postgraduate research teams) organizational culture influences Chinese master’s students’ academic aspirations, focusing on the mediating roles of perceived organizational support and research self-efficacy. Shi-men cultures were categorized as tribal, familial, hierarchical, and free-range. Data from 782 questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling and Bootstrap. Hierarchical and unstructured cultures negatively predict academic aspirations compared to tribal culture; familial culture shows no significant effect. Perceived organizational support is a confirmed mediator; research self-efficacy is not. A chain mediation via both is found. These findings reveal mechanisms through which culture shapes academic aspirations, offering insights for improving graduate education management.

Author

• Jie Liu, Tsinghua University