The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 46, No. 1 - 40

Stephen A. Berg, Casey Graham Brown

ative correlation, r = -.465, p < .001, between
synergistic supervision and intention to turnover. Participants who reported higher levels of
intention to turnover reported lower levels of
perceived synergistic supervision.

Levels of Synergistic Supervision and Job
Satisfaction
The fourth research question asked if there
was a relationship between perceived levels of
synergistic supervision received and job satisfaction. There was a strong positive relationship, r = .827, p < .001, between synergistic
supervision and job satisfaction. Participants
who reported higher levels of job satisfaction
reported higher levels of perceived synergistic
supervision.

Job Satisfaction of RA and Job
Satisfaction of Supervisor
The fifth research question asked if there was
a relationship between job satisfaction of the
RA and the job satisfaction of his or her supervisor. There was a weak positive relationship,
r = .173, between the job satisfaction of the staff
members; however, this correlation was not
found to be statistically significant (p = .240).
A relationship could not be determined.

DISCUSSION
Those RAs who reported receiving a higher
level of synergistic supervision reported a
lower level of role ambiguity. This is an important finding as RAs have many responsibilities
that may lead to greater amounts of job ambiguity and job dissatisfaction, such as enforcing
policy, promoting community engagement, or
acting as a mediator or counselor (Blimling,
2003). From previous research, we know that
less role ambiguity is correlated with higher

job satisfaction (Brecheisen, 2015; Deluga &
Winters, 1990). Since RAs have so many different responsibilities, it is important that they
understand each role. Based on the findings of
this study, supervision may have an impact on
the reduction of RAs' role ambiguity.
Synergistic supervision emphasizes the im-

Role conflict is a natural part of the
RA position, but supervision can
play a role in minimizing its impact.

portance of the dual focus on both the personal
and professional growth of the RA. The current
study found that the higher level of perceived
synergistic supervision the RA received negatively correlated to the amount of role conflict
the participants reported. Because RAs have
responsibilities as a student, peer, employee,
and policy enforcer, there will be times when
they face competing priorities. One day the RA
could be helping a student who is dealing with
homesickness and the next day could be documenting the student's violation of policy. The
RA's compassionate role competes with their
policy enforcement role in a situation in which
the student likely faces a consequence (Wilson
& Hirschy, 2003). Role conflict can impact
RAs academically, as their role as an RA can
compete with their role as a student, which can
lead to early departure from the RA position
(Brecheisen, 2015; Schaller & Wagner, 2007).
Role conflict is a natural part of the RA position, but supervision can play a role in minimizing its impact.

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 46, No. 1

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