Investigation of the classroom teachers' empathi̇c orientations

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of classroom teachers on the level of empathy and empathic tendencies according to some variables. The population of the study is classroom teachers working in Aydin province in 2014-2015 academic year. Participants were selected by using convenience sampling, consisted of 289 classroom teachers from 21 elementary schools in Efeler, Aydin. In the research, Empathic Tendency Scale written by Kocak and Onen (2013) was used with the aim of collecting data. The study conducted through hybrid design that combines both quantitative and qualitative patterns. In order to investigate their views the participants were interviewed and asked open-ended questions. Independent samples for studies of quantitative data and qualitative data on the size of the t-test research work with one-way analysis of variance were analyzed using content analysis. It is revealed that the fact that marital status, highest level of education, educational backgound, willingness to choose work occupation, overall satisfaction with work, having kids and grade level they teach were not among the determines of the level of empathy and empathic tendencies. But, the fact that gender and particaption of empathic-orientation teacher training services were among the determiners of the level of empathy and empathic tendencies. The emphaty level scores of the teachers attented in emphaty-related teacher training services were higher than the scores of the teachers who did not receive any training. Likewise, female teachers' level of emphaty scores were higher than male teachers' level of emphaty scores. KEYWORDS: empathy, emphatic orientation, classroom teacher