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Your IRI Results
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Sub-scale Score /28 Band Description
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Your Answers
# Item Response
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Categories: Assessment , Psychology
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Empathy describes how well you understand, share, and respond to other people’s feelings. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) operationalises empathy as four measurable facets—Perspective Taking, Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress—captured through reflective self-report items.

The tool presents 28 statements you rate from “does not describe me well” (0) to “describes me very well” (4). A reactive engine converts each answer into sub-scores, adjusts for reverse-scored items, then displays an instant radar-chart overview and table-based banding for quick interpretation.

Use it to monitor professional-care rapport, strengthen team dynamics, or support counselling sessions. Medical disclaimer – results are educational only and do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

Concept Overview

The IRI aggregates responses into four distinct seven-item subscales. Each item is scored 0–4; higher totals indicate greater expression of that facet. Reverse-scored items invert affect intensity to preserve construct validity.

Core Equation

The scoring rule follows the summative model below.

S:= ∑i=17 r(is)

r(is) returns the raw response when the item is forward-scored, or 4 − response when reverse-scored.

Interpretation Bands

  • Low – 0 – 12: below-average empathy signal.
  • Average – 13 – 19: typical range for adult populations.
  • High – 20 – 28: pronounced disposition toward that facet.

Variables & Parameters

ParameterMeaning
PTPerspective Taking – cognitive adoption of others’ viewpoints.
FSFantasy – emotional transport into fictional scenarios.
ECEmpathic Concern – feelings of warmth and compassion.
PDPersonal Distress – self-oriented anxiety in tense contexts.

Worked Example

A user selects 3, 4, 2, 1, 4, 0, 3 for PT. Two items are reverse-scored, converting 1→3 and 0→4. Summation yields 20 / 28, classed as High Perspective Taking.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Self-report accuracy depends on honest introspection.
  • Scores reflect current state, not stable trait.
  • Reverse-scoring presumes symmetric interval perception.
  • Cultural norms may shift item salience.

Edge Cases & Error Sources

  • Blank responses default to “—” and are excluded until answered.
  • Non-numeric query-string data is ignored during auto-load.
  • Uniform all-zero answers skew radar shape and banding.
  • Mobile keyboards can obscure the progress bar on rotation.

Scientific Validity & References

Davis, M.H. (1983) validated the IRI across student and community samples. Further psychometric analyses appear in Paulus (2012) and Murphy (2021).

Privacy & Compliance

No personal or health data leaves your browser, meeting GDPR data-minimisation principles.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Complete the assessment in one sitting for consistent context.

  1. Press Start Assessment to generate the first item.
  2. Read each statement carefully and pick the radio option that best matches you.
  3. Watch progress reach 100 % before reviewing your radar-chart results.
  4. Scroll to Your Answers for a printable record or reflection.
  5. Seek professional guidance if results raise concerns.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. All answers remain locally in your browser cache and disappear when you clear site data.

How long does it take?

Most users finish in under four minutes; thoughtful reflection may extend this time slightly.

Can I retake the test?

Yes. Refresh the page or clear the response string to restart with a blank slate.

What if my score is low?

Use the band descriptions as developmental insight, not a verdict. Consider empathy-building exercises or coaching.

Why are some items reversed?

Reverse-scoring balances response style biases, ensuring each subscale measures its intended construct accurately.

Glossary:

Empathy
Capacity to understand and share another’s emotional state.
IRI
Standardised 28-item questionnaire quantifying empathy facets.
Reverse-scoring
Technique converting high numeric responses into low values to control acquiescence bias.
Radar chart
Spoke-based graphic portraying multiple quantitative axes simultaneously.
Band
Qualitative category—Low, Average, High—mapped to numeric score ranges.