Mentoring Quality Index: A Quantitative Multidomain Evaluation Framework

Abstract

Mentorship is essential for developing professional competence, enhancing skill acquisition, and supporting identity formation across academic, clinical, and organizational settings. Despite its significance, there is a persistent lack of standardized, psychometrically robust tools for evaluating mentoring effectiveness across disciplines. This paper introduces the Mentoring Quality Index (MQI), a theory driven, modular framework informed by Kram’s mentoring functions, Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model, Working Alliance Theory, and culturally responsive mentoring principles. The MQI comprises 16 key performance indicators across four domains, and incorporates multiperspective triangulation, discrepancy analysis, and structured reporting. Its adaptable design supports varied mentoring contexts through customized weighting, language, and behavioral indicators.

Keywords

culturally responsive mentoring key performance indicators (KPIs)Mentoring Quality Index (MQI)mentorship evaluation quantitative assessment frameworks

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abdelmannan

Buhumaid

Salman

Abdulrahman

Khamis

Zary

Guraya

S. S.

(2025). A scoping review of mentorship in graduate medical education: A proposed conceptual framework. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1616148. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1616148

Al Hilali

K. S.

Al Mughairi

B. M.

Kian

M. W.

Karim

A. M.

(2020). Coaching and mentoring-concepts and practices in development of competencies: A theoretical perspective. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 10(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v10-i1/6991

American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Educational Research Association.

Bloom

G. A.

Durand-Bush

Salmela

J. H.

(1997). Pre- and postcompetition routines of expert coaches of team sports. The Sport Psychologist, 11(2), 127–141. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.11.2.127

Bloom

G. A.

Durand-Bush

Schinke

R. J.

Salmela

J. H.

(1998). The importance of mentoring in the development of coaches and athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 29(3), 267–281. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:140446214

Brondyk

Searby

(2013). Best practices in mentoring: Complexities and possibilities. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 2(3), 189–203. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijmce-07-2013-0040

Chao

G. T.

Walz

P. M.

Gardner

P. D.

(1992). Formal and informal mentorship: A comparison of mentoring functions and contrasts with nonmentored counterparts. Personnel Psychology, 45(3), 619–636. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1992.tb00863.x

Chun

Edwards

A. N. A.

(2025). Mentorship as a strategy for the professional development of novice teachers: A case study of international student teachers in China. European Journal of Teaching and Education, 7(1), 38–60. https://doi.org/10.33422/ejte.y7il.1446

Fatima

Abbas

Haider

S. I.

Khan

Uqaili

A. A.

Khan

A. M.

Rasheed

(2026). Evaluation of a medical school’s mentorship program using the CIPP model: A mixed-methods study. BMC Medical Education, 26, 94. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08333-x

10.

Fealy

McMillan

Damm

Biles

Dawson

Anderson

Biles

(2025). Evaluating the implementation of the Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Mentoring (DANMM) programme: A mixed-methods pilot study conducted across four local health districts in New South Wales, Australia. BMJ Open, 15(9), e101980–e101980. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101980

11.

Ianni

Samuels

Champagne

Nehl

DiazGranados

(2025). A scoping review of mentorship in a CTSA context: A summary of past work and an agenda for future research. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), e164. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2025.10096

12.

Iheduru-Anderson

K. C.

Alexander

K. E.

Mathews

Ugorji

J. U.

Ramdin

V. A.

Akanegbu

McCoy

McCamey

Okoro

Calvert

W. J.

Webber-Ritchey

K. J.

(2025). From bedside to classroom: An autoethnography of the mentoring experiences of BIPOC nurse faculty from transition to tenure and promotion. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 12, 23333936251369439. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936251369439

13.

Janssen

van Vuuren

de Jong

M. D. T.

(2015). Informal mentoring at work: A review and suggestions for future research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 18(4), 498–517. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12069

14.

Joo

B. K.

Sushko

J. S.

McLean

G. N.

(2012). Multiple faces of coaching: Managerial, developmental, and executive coaching. Organization Development Journal, 30(1), 19–38.

15.

Karcher

M. J.

Kuperminc

G. P.

Portwood

S. G.

Sipe

C. L.

Taylor

A. S.

(2006). Mentoring programs: A framework to inform program development, research, and evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 34(6), 709–725. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20125

16.

Kirkpatrick

(1979). Techniques for evaluating training programs. Training and Development Journal, 33(6), 78–92.

17.

Kirkpatrick

D. L.

(1996). Evaluating training programs: The four levels. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

18.

Kram

K. E.

(1983). Phases of the mentor relationship. Academy of Management Journal, 26(4), 608–625. https://doi.org/10.2307/255910

19.

Labin

(2019). Mentorships are measurable. CTDO Magazine.

20.

Likert

(1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, 22(140), 1–55.

21.

Lin

S. W.

(2011). Application of the Kirkpatrick model in evaluating mentor teacher training.

22.

Lundgren

J. D.

Orsillo

S. M.

(2012). The science and practice of mentoring in psychology doctoral training. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 26(3), 196–209. https://doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.26.3.196

23.

McKlveen

(2024). Changes to institutional training grant applications to support biomedical workforce, discovery. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 28 June. Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/blog/changes-to-institutional-training-grant-applications-to-support-the-biomedical-workforce-discovery (accessed 1 March 2026).

24.

Mullen

E. J.

(1994). Framing the mentoring relationship as an information exchange. Human Resource Management Review, 4, 257–281. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:143750181, https://doi.org/10.1016/1053-4822(94)90015-9

25.

National Institutes of Health. (2024). Updates to NIH institutional training grant applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. Notice Number: NOT-OD-24-129.

26.

Njelesani

Watson

Gahlot

Ahmed

Kim

(2025). Culturally sensitive mentorship in occupational therapy education. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2025.090302

27.

Nsouli

D. E.

Nelson

D. R.

Nsouli

Curtis

Ahmed

S. I.

Mcgonagle

Kane

Ahmadi

(2023). The application of Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model in the assessment of interprofessional simulation activities involving pharmacy students: A systematic review. The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 87(8), 100003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2023.02.003

28.

Nuis

Segers

Beausaert

(2023). Conceptualizing mentoring in higher education: A systematic literature review. Educational Research Review, 41, 100565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2023.100565

29.

Oeben

Grajfoner

(2026). What makes coaching relationships effective?: A systematic literature review identifying five areas of influence. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 24(1), 27–48. https://doi.org/10.24384/616q-8y27. Accessed: 1 March 2026

30.

Pfund

Sancheznieto

Byars-Winston

Zárate

Black

Birren

Rogers

Asai

D. J.

(2022). Evaluation of a culturally responsive mentorship education program. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 21(3), ar50. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-11-0321

31.

Pryce

Deane

(2025). The mentor attunement scale: A tool to measure a critical mentoring skill-set. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 33(1), 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2024.2420122

32.

Ragins

B. R.

Kram

K. E.

(2007). The handbook of mentoring at work: Theory, research, and practice. Sage Publications.

33.

Rogers

J. G.

Byars-Winston

(2025). The Mentorship Working Alliance Scale: Measuring the interpersonal component of mentoring relationships. The Mentorship Working Alliance Scale-Mentee Version. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2025.72

34.

Sagar

P. L.

Ramos

M. D.

Amados

Beriones

G. L.

Remegio

Saria

M. G.

Evangelista

(2025). Guided by culture, fueled by goals. Nurse Leader, 24, 102565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102565

35.

Serbanescu

Chircu

(2014). Evaluating mentor teacher training through e-learning platforms. In Miguel

B. N.

Maggie

(Eds.), Proceedings of the international conference e-learning (Issues 978-989-8704-08-5) (pp. 374–378). IADIS Press. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED557189.pdf .

36.

Smidt

Balandin

Sigafoos

Reed

V. A.

(2009). The Kirkpatrick model: A useful tool for evaluating training outcomes. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 34(3), 266–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250903093125

37.

Tran

E. A.

Wozniak

J. A.

Prakaashana

A. N.

Middleswart

N. M.

Abraham

P. J.

(2025). Cross-cultural mentorship. Nurse Leader, 24, 102566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.102566

38.

Woolnough

H. M.

Fielden

S. L.

(2016). Mentoring in nursing and healthcare. Wiley-Blackwell.