The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1 - 100

Robert Longwell-Grice • Kathleen Kerr

powerful influence upon us, reflecting our
attitudes and shaping our perspectives and
our actions. While we believe that RAs learn
and grow during their time in the position,
having a firmly held predetermined metaphor
of what the job entails makes it difficult for
RA supervisors to work with RAs. When an
RA has a favorite hat, it becomes difficult to
convince him or her that in different situations different hats might be more useful.
Using metaphors as a way to understand how
RA candidates perceive the RA job will also
allow staff to select RAs who are a good fit for
the position, thus allowing them to be more
successful in the position.

RA Training
RA training is often focused on getting RAs
ready for the job without really focusing on
individual RA expectations and perceptions. If
the supervisors know how RAs are viewing the
position, they could be trained in a way to better
ensure that their expectations are more in line
with the realities of the position. Having RAs
select a metaphor about the job helps staff read
their minds regarding their attitude towards the
job. In fact, residence life staff could use metaphors themselves in order to help new RAs
understand the position. As McEwan (2007)
states, metaphors can help to structure our

RA training is often focused
on getting RAs ready for the
job without really focusing
on individual RA expectations
and perceptions.
100

thinking and understanding of events. Further,
Martinez, Sauleda, and Huber (2001) maintain
that metaphors affect behavior. Therefore use of
metaphors during RA training can help further
a new RA’s understanding of the job and help
shape their attitudes towards the position in a
desirable manner.

RA Supervision
When supervisors get a glimpse into the minds
of their RAs through the metaphors they are
using, it will also assist them with supervision. As we saw in this study, some of the RAs
changed their metaphor when they realized
there was a mismatch. Undoubtedly the RA position is difficult, and there will be times when
RAs experience disappointment. Knowing what
metaphor the RA selected will be important for
staff so they know whether the disappointment
is due to a mismatch of expectations and realities; knowing this, they could then help focus
the RA. Ollilainen and Calasanti (2007) and
Inns (2002) found that other organizations use
metaphors to help create group cohesion and
encourage commitment to the organization. Supervisors who intentionally use metaphors with
the RAs could do so with the intent of creating
greater staff cohesion.
The researchers believe that the use of
metaphor in RA selection and training has
great potential, as is demonstrated in this
study. Because using metaphors allows people
to discuss difficult and emotional topics
better than literal language does (Fainsilber &
Ortony, 1987; Hocker & Wilmot, 1991; Lakoff
& Johnson, 1980), residence life staff can also
use metaphors to discuss sensitive topics in individual and group meetings. Use of metaphor
could be ideal when presenting diversity programs or mediating between groups as well.

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 39, No. 2 & Volume 40, No. 1