Visually impaired people encourtering social life difficulty and social exclusion: A scale development study

In this study, it was aimed to develop two scales to determine the difficulties faced by visually impaired people in social life and social exclusion. Survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. In the scale development process, a literature review was conducted and a draft of the 5-points Likert-type Social Difficulties in the Visually Impaired Scale consisting of 37 items and 5-point Likert-type Social Exclusion Scale in the Visually Impaired Scale consisting of the 24 items were created. In line with the expert opinion, necessary arrangements were made in the scale and the scale of social difficulties in the visually impaired was reduced to 18 items and the scale of social exclusion in the visually impaired individuals participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed and the scale was finalized. Social difficulties in the visually impaired scale consisting of 10 items from a single dimension and social exclusion in the visually impaired scale consisting of 9 items from a single dimension were obtained. Cronbach's Alfa reliability coefficients of the scales were found to be .78 in the scale of social difficulties in the visually impaired and .82 in the scale of social exclusion in the visually impaired. In addition, it was determined that the difficulties and social life varied according to some socio-demographic variable, while others did not. The results of the research revealed that the scale of social difficulties in the visually impaired and the scale of social exclusion in the visually impaired are valid and reliable measurement tools.