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Learn more about ARC's services for
mentoring programs:
ARC's mentoring research centers
on match relationship quality
because the strongest relationships produce the best outcomes
for youth. We measure it with the
instruments we developed for that purpose, the Youth Mentoring Survey
and the Match Characteristics Questionnaire. One benefit of using these
instruments is that they can be integrated into existing programming
processes.
ARC specializes in mentoring research. The general parameters of our
entry-
and mid-level program evaluation for mentoring programs is similar to
what we do in any evaluation. However, we have refined methods for working
with mentoring programs that help us develop meaningful insight efficiently.
We also offer a more rigorous research option for mentoring programs
interested in participating in our Harvard-affiliated research initiative.
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"These measures will prove a valuable
component of any effort to conduct a rigorous and informative evaluation of
mentoring relationships and programs to support them."
Dr.
David DuBois,
Co-Editor Handbook of Youth Mentoring |
Programs seeking rigorous, large-scale
evaluation should consider ARC's Harvard-affiliated research. In
partnership with Dr. Michael Nakkula, of Harvard's Graduate School of
Education, ARC has refined a rigorous research design that may be tailored
to individual programs' needs. The Harvard-affiliated research
differs from ARC's
entry- or mid-level projects in scope and rigor, which means
programs benefit from extraordinary insight on both processes and outcomes.
Participation can also enhance competitiveness for grants.
However, the research also requires a greater commitment from participating
programs.
The reporting
associated with this research is comprehensive, and publication is the goal.
Components of the
research may include:
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An intake interview
protocol that also collects pretest data;
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Nationally respected
assessments of match quality;
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Outcome surveys measuring
attitudes and competencies;
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Uniquely rigorous
assessment of academic achievement; and,
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Interview and observation
protocols that have been refined for ten years.
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For programs seeking
insight on program design and development, ARC's program consultant,
Kathleen Murphy,
offers incomparable experience enhanced by a command of contemporary
research and theory. Specific areas of support include:
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Fundraising;
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Mentoring models and approaches;
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Sustaining successful
matches;
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Public relations and special events
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We employed
sophisticated growth modeling analyses to demonstrate a strong relationship
between mentoring and academic outcomes for elementary aged students (2007).
We are currently writing about this finding for publication.
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Our evaluation of
mentoring relationship quality showed that mentors' approach and youths'
perceptions about their match were strongly associated with changes in
academic performance. Though this finding was obtained with a small sample,
it was exceptionally strong. We currently are working on research to follow
up on the finding.
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We have coauthored two of
the
strongest and most comprehensive
instruments available for
measuring match relationship quality.
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We have coauthored several
publications with leaders in the field, including a chapter in
Karcher &
DuBois' Handbook of Youth Mentoring (2005). In that chapter we
reviewed the best mentoring surveys for measuring mentoring relationship
quality and summarized the most relevant facets of match relationship
quality.
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