Testing for Empathy

¶ … measurable assessment the determines a specific trait or attribute. For this example I have chosen the quality of "empathy" to be evaluated. The psychological test will be based on a Likert 5-point scale, where the testing subject will answer the question with a number 1-5 where 5 being the most likelihood to agree with the statement. I feel that the world is mostly subjective experience. I express emotions easily and readily. I am in interested in philanthropy. Others' feelings are important to me. I think of others first.

I offer help when I think others may need it. My feelings are often hurt at the things I see around me. I enjoy being uplifted by the stories of others. I feel a strong connection with others. When people feel emotion I often feel it too. Guidelines in Creating Psychological Tests Psychological testing is the attempt to standardized and quantify certain subjective attributes of the human mind.

What is most important in developing a solid psychological test that may lead to valid and accurate data and conclusions, is the questions being asked by the researcher. The more specific and direct the hypothesis, the more easily the testing can be administered. It is also important to realize that one simple test is not a simple solution, but can lead to pathways of learning and further experiment that create a reasonable argument based in rational thought which included empirical evidence by inductive experiment.

Other important aspects when designing a psychological test deals with ethics and professional behavior. The opportunity to take advantage of test subjects is very great in these circumstances at it is important that respect, privacy and consideration for others is honored during the development and execution of any psychological testing. The hidden nature of most examinations requires a strong ethical approach by those researchers looking for others to help in their quest for knowledge.

Empathy Assessment Empathy is an emotional and behavioral quality that displays a person's sense for another's well being. Spreng et al. (2009) wrote "Empathy is an important component of social cognition that contributes to our ability to understand and respond adaptively to others' emotions, succeed in emotional communication, and promote prosocial behavior.

The construct of empathy has assumed various definitions, as reflected by the heterogeneous nature of current self-report measures of empathy." In other words, this quality is difficult to measure because of the subjective nature of self reporting emotions and feelings. To remedy this the Likert scale model was chosen to help streamline a consistent pattern of thought. One of the advantages of this style of assessment is its ability to qualify abstract ideas.

Busch (1993) wrote " Likert-type scales are a form of psychometric scaling which place subjects along a psychological continuum according to a particular attribute. The effectiveness of the scale to rank subjects will depend in part on item format, category labeling the number of possible responses offered, and whether a neutral response possibility is included." This approach is deemed most applicable in this situation and can help determine a reasonable conclusion if the test itself is built on acceptable premises.

This survey also has weaknesses and drawbacks, that need to be understood in order for the researcher to make a more.