Editorial Type: research-article
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Online Publication Date: 01 Sept 2008

A Reliable Sounding Board: Parent Involvement in Students' Academic and Career Decision Making

Article Category: Research Article
Page Range: 33 – 43
DOI: 10.12930/0271-9517-28.2.33
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With concern over parental involvement in students' academic lives on the rise, research is needed to provide guidance for advisors and parents. In this article, student-parent interactions about academic and career decisions are examined. Data come from the Brown University Office of Institutional Research and semi-structured interviews with students at Brown University. In the interviews, students reported that they rely on their parents for general support and as a source of advice about academic and career decisions. These findings are consistent with institutional data and prior research. Analysis of the findings draws on attachment theory and on Baxter Magolda's self-authorship model of adult development. Implications for advising practice as well as suggestions for fostering constructive parent involvement are addressed.

Relative Emphasis: research, theory, practice

Copyright: © 2008 National Academic Advising Association 2008

Contributor Notes

Andrew N. Simmons is Associate Dean of the College for Health and Law Careers at Brown University. He can be contacted at Andrew_Simmons@Brown.edu.

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