I see you in me: measuring mentee-mentor identification in peer-mentoring relationships
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Authors
Bates, Archie L.
Cartwright, Joel K.
Young, Lissa V.
Issue Date
2024-02-13
Type
Journal articles
Language
Keywords
Mentoring relationships , Peer mentoring , Identification , Theories of the self , Psychometrics
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study developed identification measures between U.S. Service Academy cadet squad members and squad leaders in peer-mentoring relationships, highlighting identification as an important antecedent to mentoring. However, research has failed to show evidence of this relationship, largely because researchers have failed to measure identification, psychometrically test their measures, or differentiate identification from related constructs. Addressing this gap, we use theories of the self and interviews of cadets and faculty members to develop measures of both mentee and mentor identification. We include these measures, along with measures of empathy and similarity, in a longitudinal study of mentoring between cadet squad leaders (n = 96) and squad members (n = 968). Factor analyses revealed a three-factor solution of mentee identification with the mentor, measuring identification, empathy, and similarity. The analyses yielded a four-factor solution of mentor identification with the mentee, measuring two forms of identification, self-image, and empathy. The findings encourage future research to employ these measures for exploring identification’s role in mentoring relationships.
Description
This study developed survey questions that researchers can use to measure how much mentors identify with their mentees and mentees identify with their mentors. Researchers of mentoring believe that identification is critical to the development of mentoring relationships. The questions developed in this study can help future researchers test whether a relationship between identification and mentoring exists.
Citation
Archie L. Bates III, Joel K. Cartwright & Lissa V. Young (2024) I see you in me: measuring mentee-mentor identification in peer-mentoring relationships, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, DOI: 10.1080/13611267.2024.2313840
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
1361-1267
1469-9745
1469-9745