Never in a Class by Themselves: An Examination of Behaviors Affecting the Student-Professor Relationship

Authors

  • David J. Walsh Miami University Author
  • Mary Jo Maffei Miami University Author

Abstract

An important, but little studied, aspect of teaching is the relationship between students and professors. The student-professor relationship is important not only for its own sake, but also because it is closely linked to learning. In this study, 295 students and 116 faculty members were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions of what specific behaviors of professors contribute to an improved student-professor relationship. The study focused on four dimensions of the relationship: fairness, caring and individual attention, flexibility and open-mindedness, and trust and credibility. Students identified behaviors such as treating them as equals and displaying a friendly demeanor as greatly enhancing the student-professor relationship. Results differed by gender and major and between faculty and students.

Published

2024-03-22