Characteristics of the IDEAL Academic Advisor Cheri Tillman, EdD Max Jackson, EdD, NCC

Research Question How do students describe their IDEAL ACADEMIC ADVISOR?

Sample 2004  N=114 southeastern state university freshmen  All students were instructed by the same professor.  Not all classes had the same advising strategies.  Students were undeclared majors in the FYE program  N=186 freshmen students from the same school  Students were instructed by a variety of professors.  Not all classes had the same advising strategies.  All Students were enrolled in the Freshman Seminar course. This included FYE program and general population students.

Variables 2005 Academic and Demographic variables were used to compare FYE students to the general freshman population and to non-FYE freshmen. Also paper and pencil traditional administration was compared to online administration Academic and Demographic variables were used to compare FYE students to the general freshman population.

Instrumentation  The Adjective Check List (Gough & Heilbrun, 1980) was used by college freshmen to describe the characteristics of the Ideal Academic Advisor.  A selection of 300 adjectives  Paper and pencil administration in 2004, added an online adaptation for 2005  Automated or self scoring  Wide range of applications

Statistical Properties of the ACL  Validity based on rational thinking and theory, as well as empirical validation of some of the scales  Cattell’s (1946) 171 traits list  Use of Edwards (1954) descriptors of Murray’s (1938) need-press theory for correlations  Reliability tends to vary according to the scale  Test-retest correlations overall in an acceptable range  Reliability as a “meaningful psychological variable” (ACL Manual, p. 30)

ACL Scales in this Study  Topical Scales: Nine scales that include “measures of various facets of personality and social dispositions not drawn from any single theory” (ACL Manual, p. 15)  Need Scales: Fifteen scales from Murray (1938) & Edwards (1954), descriptions of personality variables relevant to normal population from observable behavior

Procedures 2004  Classroom Setting  A set of modified written instructions directed students to fill out the ACL describing their IDEAL Academic Advisor rather than describing themselves.  Modified instructions have been used in past studies with the ACL and are discussed in the test manual  Same setting, administration, instructions, and procedures as stated above in 2004  Added an online version for comparisons

2004 Top 100 Adjective Choices in order of preference friendly active dependable cheerful intelligent adventurous kind honest easygoing humorous clear-thinking clever outgoing confident cool energetic alert ambitious determined sociable appreciative cooperative responsible generous considerate enthusiastic reasonable thoughtful good-natured organized pleasant trusting helpful patient calm reliable adaptable affectionate capable forgiving healthy imaginative realistic warm civilized mature relaxed charming courageous excitable optimistic understanding natural talkative wise practical spontaneous self-confident efficient interests wide original sophisticated daring jolly logical loyal wholesome sensitive sincere assertive attractive gentle fair-minded independent insightful good-looking artistic dignified spunky curious soft-hearted outspoken peaceable pleasure-seeking resourceful strong sympathetic dependent opportunistic stable versatile serious cautious inventive mannerly persistent unselfish sexy thorough witty

2005 Top 100 Adjective Choices in order of preference friendly dependable kind honest active easygoing cheerful intelligent clear-thinking confident calm cooperative realistic energetic consider enthusiastic outgoing helpful trusting patient reasonable responsible humorous organize pleasant alert generous ambitious good-natured reliable practical sociable thoughtful capable wise civilized appreciative determined relaxed loyal clever understanding cool mature warm efficient logical optimistic affectionate adaptable gentle forgiving healthy jolly talkative sensitive wholesome self-confident adventurous sincere resourceful thorough fair-minded sophisticated interests wide original courageous serious witty rational imaginative insightful charming natural sympathetic mannerly assertive excitable independent peaceable stable cautious praising soft-hearted persistent tolerant steady dignified idealist precise strong opportunistic self-centered outspoken conservative good-looking suggestive versatile frank spontaneous

Top 100 Selections 2005 (alphabetical listing) active adaptable adventurous affectionate alert ambitious appreciative assertive calm capable cautious charming cheerful civilize clear-thinking clever confident conservative consider cool cooperative courageous dependable determined dignified easygoing efficient energetic enthusiastic excitable fair-minded forgiving frank friendly generous gentle good-looking good-natured healthy helpful honest humorous idealist imaginative independent insightful intelligent interests wide jolly kind logical loyal mannerly mature natural opportunistic optimist organize original outgoing outspoken patient peaceable persistent pleasant practical praising precise rational realistic reasonable relaxed reliable resource responsive self-centered self-confident sensitive serious sincere sociable soft-hearted sophisticated spontaneous stable steady strong suggestible sympathetic talkative thorough thoughtful tolerant trusting understanding versatile warm wholesome wise witty

Top 100 Selections 2004 (alphabetical listing) active adaptable adventurous affectionate alert ambitious appreciative artistic assertive attractive calm capable cautious charming cheerful civilize clear-thinking clever confident consider cool cooperative courageous curious daring dependable dependent determined dignified easygoing efficient energetic enthusiastic excitable fair-minded forgiving friendly generous gentle good-looking good-natured healthy helpful honest humorous imaginative independent insightful intelligent interests wide inventive jolly kind logical loyal mannerly mature natural opportunistic optimist organize original outgoing outspoken patient peaceable persistent pleasant pleasure-seeking practical realistic reasonable relaxed reliable resource responsive self-confident sensitive serious sexy sincere sociable soft-hearted sophisticated spontaneous spunky stable strong sympathetic talkative thorough thoughtful trusting understanding unselfish versatile warm wholesome wise witty

Top 100 Selections (alphabetical listing) active adaptable adventurous affectionate alert ambitious appreciative assertive calm capable cautious charming cheerful civilize clear-thinking clever confident conservative considerate cool cooperative courageous dependable determined dignified easygoing efficient energetic enthusiastic excitable fair-minded forgiving frank friendly generous gentle good-looking good-natured healthy helpful honest humorous idealistic imaginative independent insightful intelligent interests wide jolly kind logical loyal mannerly mature natural opportunistic optimistic organized original outgoing outspoken patient peaceable persistent pleasant practical praising precise rational realistic reasonable relaxed reliable resource responsive self-centered self-confident sensitive serious sincere sociable soft-hearted sophisticated spontaneous stable steady strong suggestible sympathetic talkative thorough thoughtful tolerant trusting understanding versatile warm wholesome wise witty active adaptable adventurous affectionate alert ambitious appreciative artistic assertive attractive calm capable cautious charming cheerful civilize clear-thinking clever confident considerate cool cooperative courageous curious daring dependable dependent determined dignified easygoing efficient energetic enthusiastic excitable fair-minded forgiving friendly generous gentle good-looking good-natured healthy helpful honest humorous imaginative independent insightful intelligent interests wide inventive jolly kind logical loyal mannerly mature natural opportunistic optimistic organized original outgoing outspoken patient peaceable persistent pleasant pleasure-seeking practical realistic reasonable relaxed reliable resource responsible self-confident sensitive serious sexy sincere sociable soft-hearted sophisticated spontaneous spunky stable strong sympathetic talkative thorough thoughtful trusting understanding unselfish versatile warm wholesome wise witty

Results Summary  There are definite patterns of traits that freshmen desire in their Ideal Academic Advisor.  A student consensus of Ideal characteristics led to a rich description of desirable traits in an Academic Advisor for freshmen using the ACL.  Scales and profiles from the ACL organized these traits into interpretable and applicable information.  The ACL was easy to administer and a useful tool worthy of continued application.  Online administration is equivalent to Paper and Pencil.

Conclusion The Ideal Academic Advisor for students in this two year study is a person who is logical, organized, and dependable. The advisor is warm, talkative, assertive, and has the ability to form close relationships. The advisor is unpretentious, uncomplicated, protective, humorous, and imaginative. This person likes people and appears to be at ease in social settings while being poised and tactful.

Future Research  These studies will contribute to a longitudinal observation of the changing influences and needs of college students.  Future studies can address the limitations related to sample bias and identify influences specific to particular student populations.  Broader samples including other types of schools and different geographical locations could shed new light on the generalizability.  Implementation of online administration will facilitate broader sampling.

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No Significant Differences in the Number of Responses for Paper & Pencil or Online Administrations Regardless of Gender

2005 Paper & Pencil-Online Comparisons Summary Profiles For Males Profiles For Males Profiles For Females Profiles For Females Between Gender Comparisons Between Gender Comparisons Total Response Comparisons Total Response Comparisons

2005 Male Online vs. Paper & Pencil

2005 Female Online vs. Paper & Pencil

2005 Female Online vs. Male Online

2005 Female Paper & Pencil vs. Male Paper & Pencil

2005 Total Online vs. Total Paper & Pencil

2005 Total Sample Profile

You Can Join Our Study from Your Own Campus No Appreciable Difference Between Online and Paper & Pencil Versions of the ACL Means : If you are interested in joining our study describing the Ideal Academic Advisor this year, leave your name and contact information with us and we will contact you. It takes less than 30 minutes to fill out online and we will return to you individual campus information if you are willing to share the cost for each profile you want to have processed per profile).

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