Assessing initial anticipatory public relations socialization of early mass communication entrants

Differing from previous research of PR majors, this study of students in introduction to mass communication courses focused on how one is socialized into public relations before he or she arrives for the first day on the job. The 236 students surveyed most frequently associated public relations with advocacy roles, working with people and advertising. Experience on high school newspapers and yearbooks were both positively related to a student's public relations technician self-efficacy.