The Reliability and Validation of the Empathy Quotient Scale for high school students

The purpose of the present research was to investigate validity and reliability of Empathy Quotient Scale. The research sample were 720 high school students from the city of Ardabil whom They were selected through random sampling. To gather the data of the Empathy Quotient Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, Stress, Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. Factors analysis showed that there were three factors in Empathy Quotient Scale: cognitive empathy (9 items), social skills (8 items)and emotional reactivity (9 items). The internal consistency coefficient of the Empathy Quotient Scale were 0.88. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the Empathy Quotient Scale, in 4- weeks interval, was 0.80. The validity coefficient of the Empathy Quotient Scale, with Emotional Intelligence scale, Stress, Anxiety and Depression Scale for total participants were 0.27 and -0.32, respectively. In sum, the research provides evidence for appropriate validity and reliability of Empathy Quotient Scale.