Development of empathy scale: A study of validity and reliability

The purpose of this study is to develop a valid and reliable empathy scale, measuring the empathy aspects of the teachers. The developed scale is an empathy scale in the form of five-point Liker. Factor analysis has been done on the scale to develop the scale. After getting opinions of the experts, the scale having consisted of 38 questions were reduced to 27 items. The scale has been applied to 653 teachers. Likewise, the relation of the teachers with students in terms of various variables has been analyzed. Within the scope of the validity and reliability studies of teachers empathy scale, before the general reliability, Bern Bach alpha reliability coefficient was analyzed, and after the analysis, it was calculated as 0,771. Within the scope of the development validity, as a result of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the draft scale has been decreased to the 7 items scale. To check whether the data structure is appropriate or not, factor analysis has been checked by benefiting from KMO and Barlett test methods. As a result, the value of KMO test has been determined as 0,848 and the Bartlett test has been founded as 878, 969 (p<0, 05). For personal information form, a Questionnaire consisting of Teachers empathy Scale was applied to 653 teachers working in the Duhok province. In the evaluation of the data obtained from the questionnaires, percentage and frequency statistics were used to determine the descriptive characteristics of teachers, and average and standard deviation statistics were used to determine empathy. T-test and One-Way ANOVA tests were used to determine a teacher's empathy. As a result of the research, it was found that the empathy of the teachers has a statistically significant and positive effect on relationship between them and their students. Also, it was determined that there were differences in empathy and relationship with students according to the descriptive characteristics of teachers. The female teachers empathy scale score (x ̅=21, 86); SD=4, 54) was little more than the male teachers' empathy scale score (x ̅=20, 82); SD=4, 39). And according to their martial statues, there is not any difference between them, and also according to their satisfaction with their life, we didn't find any difference. According to experience years, it was determined that those who had more experience had more empathy and higher score. Empathy scale score of the teachers who had 10-12 years' experience was determined as ( x ̅=21,61). According to the findings obtained from the teachers who participated in the study, a significant difference was found between the teachers who are 51 or over, however, for the other categories, there was not any difference.