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Article
Publication date: 4 December 2020

Torbjørn Waaland

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cognitive tasks on mentoring provided and the moderating influence of having an educational leadership position.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cognitive tasks on mentoring provided and the moderating influence of having an educational leadership position.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional survey was based on a questionnaire sent to 435 employees of 29 preschools in Norway. A total of 284 responses were returned, with a response rate of 65.3%. A total of three research hypotheses were formulated. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to develop three measurement models, and structural equation modelling (SEM) based on the multigroup analysis was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results revealed that cognitive tasks increase the occurrence of mentoring provided at work for employees with and without an educational leadership position. Furthermore, educational leadership moderates the relationship between cognitive tasks and mentoring provided.

Research limitations/implications

The use of convenience sampling and self-reports are discussed, especially related to representativeness and reporting biases. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

Originality/value

This is an understudied area, and no previous research has used a confirmatory approach to investigate how cognitive tasks and educational leadership influence the occurrence of mentoring provided.

Details

International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-6854

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 February 2014

Torbjørn Waaland

– The main purpose of this article is to study the influence of cognitive tasks on mentoring provided and the moderating influence of professional teacher education.

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of this article is to study the influence of cognitive tasks on mentoring provided and the moderating influence of professional teacher education.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional survey was based on a questionnaire that was sent to a total of 435 employees from 29 pre-schools in Norway. A total of 284 responses were returned, a response rate of 65.3 per cent. Two research hypotheses were formulated. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to develop three measurement models and structural equation modelling (SEM) based on multi-group analysis was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results revealed that cognitive tasks increase the occurrence of mentoring provided at work and professional teacher education moderates this relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The use of convenience sampling and self-reports are discussed, especially related to representativeness and reporting biases.

Practical implications

The findings implicate a need for increased interdisciplinary co-operation both at work and in the teacher education.

Originality/value

This is an under-studied area and no previous research has used a confirmatory approach to investigate how cognitive tasks and professional education influence the occurrence of mentoring provided.

Details

Journal of Workplace Learning, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-5626

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 June 2013

Torbjørn Waaland

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of problem‐solving tasks on mentoring received, peer mentoring and mentoring provided.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of problem‐solving tasks on mentoring received, peer mentoring and mentoring provided.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross‐sectional survey was based on a questionnaire that was sent to a total of 435 employees from 29 pre‐schools in Norway. A total of 284 responses were returned, a response rate of 65.3 per cent. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to assess the validity and reliability of measurement scales. Research questions were formulated. Stepwise regression analysis was recommended to assess the magnitude and direction of the independent variable on the three dependent variables, when controlled for by demographic and career variables.

Findings

The results revealed that problem‐solving tasks have a positive and significant influence on mentoring received, peer mentoring and mentoring provided. This means that performing unfamiliar tasks increases the occurrence of the three mentoring roles.

Research limitations/implications

The independent variables only explained 14 per cent, 30 per cent and 38 per cent of mentoring received, peer‐mentoring and mentoring provided, respectively. Thus, other job characteristics, for example specialization, need further investigation to uncover the influence of job characteristics on mentoring.

Practical implications

Problem‐solving tasks will be a challenge for educational leadership to coordinate the mentoring roles according to the changing nature of work in pre‐schools.

Originality/value

There is no previous research that investigates how job characteristics in general and problem‐solving tasks in particular influence the occurrence of mentoring relationships.

Content available
Article
Publication date: 4 February 2014

Sara Cervai

78

Abstract

Details

Journal of Workplace Learning, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-5626

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