Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Reniers et al. (2011) reported that the cognitive and affective subscales of the QCAE share some variance in
common ( r5.31). This suggests that while there is a relationship between the cognitive and affective subscales,
they still represent distinct forms of empathy. The BES correlates positively with the QCAE subscales of cognitive
(r5.62) and affective ( r5.76) empathy ( Reniers et al., 2011 ).
Divergent/Discriminant
Reniers et al. (2011) reported that females scored more highly than males on both the cognitive and affective
subscale. Reniers et al. (2012, p. 205) reported that the QCAE cognitive empathy subscale is negatively correlated
with secondary psychopathy ( r52.64)/C0(as measured via the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale). No
relationship was observed between empathy scores and moral judgment competence scores (as measured via the
Moral Judgment Task).
Construct/Factor Analytic
A principal components analysis (with direct oblimin rotation) was carried out for the original 65-item scale
(N5640). Both the Scree test ( Cattell, 1978; Cattell & Vogelmann, 1977 ) and a parallel analysis ( Velicer & Jackson,
1990 ) suggested five components, defining the subscales of the QCAE. Although a subsequent confirmatory fac-
tor analysis in an independent sample ( N5318) provided support for the five-component structure, a two-
dimensional structure relating to cognitive and affective empathy ‘provided the best and most parsimonious fit
to the data’ ( Reniers et al., 2011 , p. 84).
Criterion/Predictive
Lang (2013) reported that QCA scores decreased in a sample of 185 participants (82% female) following obser-
vation of chronic pain portrayed in entertainment media. Also, predictive validity of the QCAE has been demon-
strated in studies into prenatal testosterone and the later development of behavioral traits ( Kempe & Heffernan,
2011 ), as well as musical appreciation ( Clemens, 2012 ).
Location
Reniers, R., Corcoran, R., Drake, R., Shryane, N.M., & Vo ¨llm. B.A. (2011). The QCAE: A questionnaire of cogni-
tive and affective empathy. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93 ,8 4/C095.
Results and Comments
The QCAE has been used alongside other empathy measures including the QMEE ( Mehrabian & Epstein,
1972 ) and IRI ( Davis, 1980, 1983 ) in research studies into empathy ( Kempe & Heffernan, 2011 ) or music apprecia-
tion ( Clemens, 2012 ). The QCAE is the first online measure of empathy to date. However, test /C0retest reliability
remains to be determined for the QCAE.
QCAE SAMPLE ITEMS
I can easily work out what another person might
want to talk about.
I am good at predicting what someone will do.
It worries me when others are worrying and panicky.
Friends talk to me about their problems as they say
that I am very understanding.
It is hard for me to see why some things upset people
so much.I try to look at everybody’s side of a disagreement
before I make a decision.
Note: Items are rated on a 4-point scale ranging from:
45‘Strongly agree ;’ 35‘Slightly agree ;’ 25‘Slightly dis-
agree ;’ and 1 5‘Strongly disagree ’.
Picture Viewing Paradigms (PVP)
(Westbury & Neumann, 2008 ).271 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
III. EMOTION REGULATION