Exploring research on mentoring policies in education
International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education
ISSN: 2046-6854
Article publication date: 25 November 2013
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to expand the conversation about mentoring and policy and provides a detailed analysis of empirical research on mentoring polices in education, with a focus on adult mentoring in primary and secondary schools.
Design/methodology/approach
Articles in peer-reviewed journals were examined using a systematic content analysis. In total, 405 abstracts/articles were reviewed, and 37 articles were subjected to an in-depth analysis.
Findings
Although very few articles dealt specifically with mentoring policy in any substantial way, a major finding that emerged was that to be effective, policy development should include not only the stakeholders who have the power to create it, but also those who must implement it.
Research limitations/implications
Although the authors acknowledge that the systematic search process may not have captured all the relevant articles, and that other books or resources on this topic might not have been accessed in the search process, serious research on the topic of mentoring policy and its implications for primary and secondary school contexts nevertheless seems to be limited.
Practical implications
The findings have implications for practice and future research, and point towards the need for a comprehensive research agenda on this topic.
Originality/value
The paper has value for the directions of future research.
Keywords
Citation
Fransson, G. and K. McMahan, S. (2013), "Exploring research on mentoring policies in education", International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 218-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-05-2013-0031
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited