Measuring Empathy: Reliability and Validity of Empathy Quotient

Abstract

The Empathy Quotient is a self-reported test to measure the cognitive and affective aspects of empathy. The purpose of this study was to develop a short version of Empathy Quotient and to establish its psychometric properties. The short version of empathy assessment scale and its correspondence with life skills assessment scale and social skills scale were evaluated in a sample of 971 school adolescents. A test-retest study was conducted at 2 weeks’ time on a selected sample of 120 subjects from the original sample. Correlation and factor analyses were conducted. Result of the study indicates that the test-retest reliability was good, and the internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha=0.65). Positive correlations were found between the empathy scale and other measures. In conclusion, Empathy scale showed acceptable psychometric properties and can be used in scientific studies.