Leading Tools To Assess Mentoring Relationships
I have worked with Dr. Michael Nakkula for more than 25 years to advance the measurement of what goes on in mentoring relationships. To assess 1:1 mentoring relationships, we developed the Youth Mentoring Survey (YMS) and the Match Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ). To assess group mentoring characteristics, we developed the Experience of Group Mentoring survey (EGM) with Dr. Gabriel Kuperminc. Learn more about each survey below. Complete a brief request form for free access to download the surveys and related scoring tools, descriptions, guides, and other resources here.
Surveys To Assess One-on-One Mentoring Relationships
The YMS and the MCQ are complementary surveys, designed to be completed by youth and mentors, respectively. They are the most comprehensive validated tools available to measure what goes on in one-on-one mentoring relationships. Both are recommended by the National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC) and used all over the world. We introduced them in 2003 and revised them in 2018. Learn more about each survey below. Complete a brief request form to download the surveys and related materials.
Surveys to Measure Group Mentoring Experiences
There is no comprehensive, validated tool to measure the experience of group mentoring. I worked with Dr. Michael Nakkula and Dr. Gabriel Kuperminc to develop youth and mentor versions of a survey that could meet that need. The Experience of Group Mentoring survey (EGM) offers comprehensive measurement of the aspects of group mentoring we identified as most important. You can expect it to yield useful insight on individuals’ experiences of group mentoring. However, it is a beta survey. We have not collected enough data to validate it, yet. Learn more about it here. Complete a brief request form to download youth and mentor versions of the EGM here, along with supporting materials.
If you would like to consider alternatives to the EGM, Dr. Kuperminc has developed a scale to measure group mentoring climate. It has limited validity evidence and is not as comprehensive as the EGM. However, it is recommended by the NMRC and will yield useful insight. All of the items from the group mentoring climate scale are incorporated into the EGM. If you are looking for a tool that yields more robust insight on your program’s groups, the EGM is the only survey I am aware of that provides it.
Learn More about the Mentoring Surveys
Why Measure?
As a mentoring practitioner, you are in the business of building relationships that foster growth. Quality control is crucial. In mentoring, quality control means making the worst matches more like the best ones. You need data to inform your perspective on how individual matches are doing. Data also helps you detect patterns across matches. To learn more, take a look at MENTOR’s overview.
What to Measure?
Mentors and mentees need to enjoy spending time with each other. It is also important for them to perceive that the relationship is worth the time they put into it. But you can’t just coach participants to be satisfied. Measuring what they do together gives you the data you need to provide specific support. Measuring the quality of the mentoring environment helps you give each match the best chance to succeed. In our chapter, Assessing Mentoring Relationships, in the Handbook of Youth Mentoring, Mike Nakkula and I presented a framework for thinking about what to measure. The NMRC provides a useful overview of that information.
Youth Mentoring Survey (YMS)
The Youth Mentoring Survey (YMS) is used all over the world to measure the mentee’s experience of a 1:1 mentoring relationship. It measures mentees’ satisfaction with their mentor and with what they are getting out of the match. It also measures what they do with their mentors. If you would like to learn more, download the manual. Download the survey and related materials here.
Match Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ)
The Match Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ) is used all over the world to measure a mentor’s experience of a 1:1 mentoring relationship. It measures a mentor’s satisfaction with the relationship and with what the mentee is getting out of the match. It also measures what they prioritize in activities with their mentees and how they feel about external influences on the match (e.g., program support). If you would like to learn more, download the manual. Download the survey and related materials here.
Experience of Group Mentoring Survey
The Experience of Group Mentoring Survey (EGM) is a new survey with versions for mentors and mentees participating in group mentoring. It measures satisfaction and key facets of individual and group engagement. Download the survey and related materials here.