What is Cotemporality

This study examined the effect of computer-based videoconferencing and text-based chat on mentoring relationships, and compared the findings to those of face-to-face and telephone interactions. The results of this study indicate that protégés in all communications conditions found the mentoring to be satisfying and helpful in reducing stress. The amount of variability assigned to communication mode was negligible, especially when compared to the amount of variability attributable mentors, suggesting that efforts to implement online mentoring should focus on training mentors, rather than on concerns over communication mode effects. The authors hope that these findings will help organizations in implementing online mentoring, as well as encouraging researchers to expand on the findings of this study.