Kerper, Sarah J. and Steele, Jenessa Identifying Predictors of Faculty Prosocial Behavior: The Influence of Empathy, Perceived Similarity, Causal Attribution, and Self-Efficacy. 2012. Radford University, Thesis. Radford University Scholars' Repository.
 |
PDF
Download (340kB) |
Abstract
Out-of-class communication often involves students meeting with instructors during office hours, about an academic problem, which ends in self-disclosure of personal problems as a form of help-seeking. In the current study, causal attribution, perceived similarity, self-efficacy, and empathy were hypothesized as predictors of instructor prosocial tendencies. Using a questionnaire method, 138 instructors participated in the study. Results indicated significant positive associations between perceived similarity, self-efficacy, empathy, and prosocial tendencies. Further analyses revealed empathy partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and prosocial tendencies. These findings indicated that instructors were more helpful in situations where they were more empathetic towards the student, as well as when instructors felt self-efficacious in helping students. Implications for instructor training and future research are discussed.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Divisions: | Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Feb 2013 20:06 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Apr 2026 17:12 |
| URI: | http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/57 |
Administrative Actions
 |
View Item |
