Rp. Settoon et Cl. Adkins, NEWCOMER SOCIALIZATION - THE ROLE OF SUPERVISORS, COWORKERS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, Journal of business and psychology, 11(4), 1997, pp. 507-516
The present study examined referents for sensemaking and the relations
hips between choice of referent and socialization outcomes. Newly hire
d employees of a state department of mental health were surveyed at tw
o time periods approximately six months apart. Results indicated that
newcomer use of friends and family as referents for sensemaking predic
ted socialization outcomes at Time 1, whereas use of supervisors and c
oworkers as referents for sensemaking predicted socialization outcomes
at Time 2. The implications of these results for practice are discuss
ed.