The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2 - 87

Resident Assistants as Rule Enforcers

leviate their role conflict, such a change may also increase the “us-them” RA-resident dichotomy (Hetherington et al., 1989). In sum, these last two recommendations move beyond helping RAs identify and cope with role conflict to reducing it by changing the structures and procedures of colleges and universities that employ undergraduate students as RAs. Such organizational changes should enhance the effectiveness of the residential life office with respect to policy enforcement.

REFERENCES
Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2008). Sociology: Understanding a diverse society (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. Babbie, E. (2010). The practice of social research (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Benedict, J. O., & Mondloch, G. J. (1989). Factors affecting burnout in paraprofessional residence hall staff members. Journal of College Student Development, 30(4), 293-297. Berkowitz, A. D., & Perkins, H. W. (1986). Resident advisers as role models: A comparison of drinking patterns of resident advisers and their peers. Journal of College Student Personnel, 27(2), 146-153. Bierman, S. E., & Carpenter, D. S. (1994). An analysis of resident assistant work motivation. Journal of College Student Development, 35(6), 467-474. Blimling, G. (2003). The resident assistant: Applications and strategies for working with college students in residence halls (6th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Company. Deluga, R. J., & Winters, J. J., Jr. (1990). The impact of role ambiguity and conflict on resident assistants. Journal of College Student Development, 31(3), 230-236. Deluga, R. J., & Winters, J. J., Jr. (1991). Why the aggravation? Reasons students become resident assistants, interpersonal stress, and job satisfaction. Journal of College Student Development, 32(6), 546-552. Fuehrer, A., & McGonagle, K. (1988). Individual and situational factors as predictors of burnout among resident assistants. Journal of College Student Development, 29(3), 244-249. Goffman, E. (1961). Encounters: Two studies in the sociology of interaction. Indianapolis, IN: BobbsMerrill.

Suggestions for Further Research
More research on the topics explored here is needed, particularly using larger random samples of RAs and a greater variety of institutional types, where RA demographics and RAresident relationships may be more variable. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, as this study did, should allow future investigators to better examine associations among variables—including the characteristics of RAs who are more or less likely to experience role conflict stemming from their simultaneous roles as rule enforcers and friends—and the extent to which graduate students or professional staff members who serve as RAs experience this type of role conflict. Additionally, studies might investigate how RAs manage the strain from these competing roles and the factors related to the strategies they adopt. Finally, future inquiries might focus on RAs’ relationships with their residents when they are not obligated to serve as rule enforcers and on other types of role conflict that RAs experience.

V o l u m e 3 7 , No. 2 • 2 0 1 1

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2