The Mentoring Relationship as an Educational Experience.

A study conducted at the University of New Mexico determined what proteges learned from their mentors and how they learned it. The subjects, 247 men and women in professional associations and graduate programs, completed a questionnaire. Survey findings suggested that proteges learned four categories of skills from their mentors: risk-taking behaviors, communication skills, political skills of the organization, and specific skills related to their professions. These skills were learned in different ways (role model, listening, substituting for mentor at meetings, supervised tasks or activities, role practice, experience) and under many different circumstances. (Appendixes, amounting to approximately one-half of the document, include the survey instrument and an annotated bibliography.) (YLB)