Mentorship scale: signed language interpreters

This study developed a scale to assess the effectiveness of mentoring for novice sign language interpreters using the Mentor’s Seven Roles framework. The purpose was to construct a reliable measurement tool to evaluate how mentoring supports professional development in interpreter education. Based on a comprehensive literature review and expert consultation, the scale was designed to measure mentoring practices across seven roles: teacher, sponsor, advisor, agent, role model, coach, and confidante. These roles represent key dimensions of mentoring relationships, including knowledge transmission, professional socialization, guidance, advocacy, modeling of professional behavior, skill development, and trusted support. The instrument incorporated latent variables to capture underlying dimensions of mentoring such as emotional support, skill acquisition, and professional identity formation. Statistical analyses, including factor analysis and t-tests, were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the scale. The findings provide empirical support for structured mentoring practices and contribute to the advancement of interpreter education and professional preparation.