Abstract:

The present study aimed to determine the correlation between the empathy levels and interpersonal communication skills of social studies teacher candidates. The study adapted quantitative research design and the participants were composed of 114 (68 females, 46 males) prospective Social Studies teachers who were selected via convenience sampling, a purposive sampling method. The data were collected using the "Empathy level determination scale" adapted to Turkish language by Kaya and Çolakoğlu (2015) and the "Interpersonal communication skills scale" adapted to Turkish language by Cıkrıkçı and Çinpolat (2021). The obtained data were analyzed via the IBM SPSS 25 statistics software using such test as; arithmetic means, standard deviation the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the non-parametric Spearman's rho test. In the study, the correlation between the empathy levels and interpersonal communication skills of social studies teacher candidates was analyzed via correlation analysis. The results revealed that based on the empathy scale sub-dimension scores the social studies teacher candidates had high emotional reaction levels, low social skills. In addition, based on interpersonal communication skills scale sub-dimensions’ scores, it was understood that their listening skill levels were the highest, followed by empathy and expression skill levels, and their social comfort skills were the lowest. To sum up, it was found out that there was a positive and significant correlation between the empathy levels and interpersonal communication skills of the social studies teacher candidates.

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