There is research in "help seeking" much of which is done in academic
venues. The book " The Psychology of Helping and Altruism" by
Schroeder, Penner, Dovidio, and Pilliavin has a chapter that reviews
this research.
-Chuck
PS: surprise: academic help seeking is negatively correlated with needing help.
At 9:59 AM -0500 12/6/00, Michael J. Kane wrote:
>Hi folks,
>
>Does anyone out there know of any research on factors that influence whether
>students take advantage of teachers' office hours? I don't know
>whether it's a
>function of my style, my courses, or my class sizes (or something
>else altogether),
>but I have a very difficult time getting my students to come to see
>me outside of
>class for extra help. The few that do come once tend to come back,
>but getting them
>in the door for the first time is what I'm concerned about. How do
>you all manage to get
>students who are struggling in your classes to come to you for help?
>On course
>evaluations my students endorse that I'm very approachable and that
>I relate to students
>very well, and yet (most) don't come. And my version of the "help
>me help you" speech
>just isn't cutting the mustard.
>
>Thanks for any input!
>
>-Mike
>
>************************************************
>Michael J. Kane
>Department of Psychology
>P.O. Box 26164
>University of North Carolina at Greensboro
>Greensboro, NC 27402-6164
>email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>phone: 336-256-1022
>fax: 336-334-5066
