Surveys 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. Read on to learn more about the Youth Mentoring Survey (YMS), the Match Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ), and other surveys we have developed. Or, click here to download the YMS and MCQ along with supporting materials.
Formal mentoring is all about building and sustaining relationships that foster growth and success. Mentoring relationships need to last long enough to produce positive outcomes. To do that, they need to be satisfying enough that mentors and mentees stay engaged. Mentors and mentees also need to do things together that promote the mentee's growth.
Surveys To Assess One-on-One Youth Mentoring Relationships
The Youth Mentoring Survey (YMS) and Match Characteristics Questionnaire (MCQ) are complementary surveys. We designed the YMS to be completed by youth and the MCQ to be completed by mentors. We introduced them in 2003 and replaced them with improved versions in 2018. These surveys have strong validity evidence that we are in the process of publishing and which we can share upon request. Both are recommended without reservations by the National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC). They have been requested by almost 1,000 people and programs in 49 countries. Download the surveys and related materials here.
Why Choose the YMS and MCQ?
Formal mentoring is all about building and sustaining relationships that foster the youth’s growth and wellbeing. Mentors and mentees need to do things together that promote the youth’s growth. They also need to stay together long for the youth to benefit. Feeling satisfied with the relationship helps them stay engaged. Factors they cannot control—programmatic support, parental engagement, logistics—can also influence their relationship. In our chapters, "Assessing Mentoring Relationships," in the Handbook of Youth Mentoring (both editions), Mike Nakkula and I presented a framework for thinking about what to measure in mentoring relationships. The NMRC provides a useful overview of that information here. The YMS and the MCQ are one-stop shopping for scales that span the framework.
Surveys to Measure Group Mentoring Experiences
There is no comprehensive, validated tool to measure how mentors and youth experience group mentoring. Mike and I worked with with Dr. Gabriel Kuperminc to develop youth and mentor versions of a survey that could meet that need. We created the Experience of Group Mentoring survey (EGM). You can expect this beta version of the EGM to yield useful insight on individuals’ experiences of group mentoring. However, we have not collected enough data to validate it, yet. Contact John Harris to learn more about the survey and request to use it.
If you would like to consider alternatives to the EGM, Dr. Kuperminc has developed a scale to measure group mentoring climate. It is recommended by the NMRC and will yield useful insight. The items from that scale are included in 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.
Accessing Our Surveys
The surveys we have developed may be used free of charge. To access them, I ask that you create an account and sign in. It is a crucial step that supports our work. It allows us to keep track of who is using the surveys, so that we can follow up with them with updated materials and invite them to share de-identified data. Members of the site gain access to the surveys and related support materials. This process replaces the request form users have completed in the past. Click here to learn more about why I require the sign-in.
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.
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. We introduced them in 2003 and revised them in 2018. These surveys have strong validity evidence which we can share upon request and are in the process of publishing. Both are recommended without reservations by the National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC). They have been requested by almost 1,000 people and programs in 49 countries. Sign in to download the surveys and related materials.