Reliability
Internal Consistency
Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) reported a Cronbach alpha coefficient of .92. Other researchers have
also reported alpha coefficients of .87 ( Hambrook, Tchanturia, Schmidt, Russell, & Treasure, 2008 ), .78 ( Kim &
Lee, 2010 ), and .85 ( Muncer & Ling, 2006 ). For a child-adapted version of the EQ (EQ-C), an alpha coefficient of
.93 was reported ( Auyeung et al., 2009 ).
Test/C0Retest
Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004) also reported a 12-month interval test /C0retest reliability coefficient of .97
for the EQ. In an independent study, the 12-month test /C0retest reliability coefficient was found to be .84
(Lawrence, Shaw, Baker, Baron-Cohen, & David, 2004 ). The test /C0retest reliability coefficient for the EQ in both
Korean and Italian adaptations over a four-week period was r5.84 ( Kim & Lee, 2010 ) and r5.85 ( Preti et al.,
2011 ).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
In the Korean adaptation of the EQ, positive correlations were obtained between the EQ and the Interpersonal
Reactivity Index (IRI) subscales: Perspective Taking ( r5.33), Empathetic Concern ( r5.25), and Fantasy ( r5.20)
(r5.17) ( Kim & Lee, 2010 ).Lawrence et al. (2004, p. 917) reported ( N552) that the Emotional Reactivity compo-
nent of the EQ correlated positively (.31) with Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores.
Divergent/Discriminant
The EQ score correlated negatively with the IRI Personal Distress subscale ( r52.17) ( Kim & Lee, 2010 ). The
EQ also exhibits significant sex differences with women scoring more highly than men ( Lawrence et al., 2004;
Muncer & Ling, 2006 ). Individuals with either Asperger’s syndrome or high-functioning autism obtained signifi-
cantly lower scores on the EQ than did normals ( Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004; Kim & Lee, 2010 ).Lawrence
et al. (2004, p. 917) reported ( N545) that the Social Skills component of the EQ correlated negatively (.35) with
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores. In a French study, Berthoz, Wessa, Kedia, Wicker, and Gre `zes (2008)
reported that the EQ correlated with the BDI ( 2.13), with Spielberger’s State STAI ( 2.08), and with the Trait
STAI (2.11). With regard to the three EQ components, only Social Skills correlated significantly with the BDI
(2.36), State STAI ( 2.34), and Trait STAI ( 2.37).
Construct/Factor Analytic
Lawrence et al. (2004) carried out a principal components analysis of the item intercorrelations and suggested
that the EQ could be better regarded as a 28-item scale with three related components of empathy (labeled: cogni-
tive empathy, emotional reactivity, and social skills), rather than a 40-item unifactorial scale. Muncer and Ling
(2006) conducted a confirmatory factor analysis that provided some support the proposed three factor structure.
Berthoz et al. (2008) undertook a confirmatory factor analysis of the EQ that provided support for the three-
dimensional structure of the measure. Allison, Varon-Cohen, Wheelwright, Stone, and Muncer (2011, p. 829)
investigated the structure of the EQ using both Rasch and CFA analyses, in samples of 658 autism spectrum dis-
order patients, 1375 family members, and 3344 normals. The CFA suggested that a 26-item model exhibited a sat-
isfactory fit to the data (RMSEA 5.05, CFI 5.93), while the Rasch analysis suggested that the EQ provides a valid
measure of empathy.
Criterion/Predictive
The EQ has been shown to exhibit criterion/predictive validity in research pertaining to autism and gender
differences ( Auyeung et al., 2009; Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004 ), social functioning and aging ( Bailey,
Henry, and Von Hippel, 2008 ), schizophrenia ( Bora, Go ¨kc¸en, and Veznedaroglu. 2007 ), and eating disorders
(Hambrook et al., 2008 ).
Location
Baron-Cohen, S., & Wheelwright, S. (2004). The empathy quotient: An investigation of adults with Asperger
syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders,
34, 163/C0175.263 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
III. EMOTION REGULATION