DEVELOPMENT of HISTORICAL EMPATHY SCALE for ADOLESCENTS: VALIDITY and RELIABILITY STUDY

The aim of this study was to develop “Historical Empathy Scale” to determine the level of historical empathy for adolescents. In the first instance, a draft scale of historical empathy composed of 37 items was formed. For transactions concerning the validity of the scale, the data collected from 1188 students in secondary schools located in various provinces of Turkey was utilized. Totally, 1188 secondary school students participated in the research; 429 students participated in CFA analysis (51.5% female and 48.5% male); 119 students participated in test-retest analysis (44.5% male and 55.5% female) and 171 students participated in criterion-related validity (52%male and 48% female). The analysis of the principal components and the varimax rotation method were used to construct EFA. As a result of the analysis, a structure consisting of 12 items and two factors explaining 43.04% of total variance of the scale were obtained. By examining the standardized loading and regression values of the items, it was decided that all the items were meaningful in both factors. As a result of reliability analysis, the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient for whole test was found to be .81; for cognitive empathy was .76, for affective empathy was .69; for test-retest reliability was .89, for cognitive empathy was .82, for affective empathy was .93. Based on the results of analyze, the scale consisting of 12 items and 2 factors to determine the historical empathy of secondary school students is a valid and reliable instrument