The Historical Empathy Measurement Tool (HEMT)

Abstract

This study is unique in that it presents the first empirically developed framework for use as a tool for measuring historical empathy. The Historical Empathy Measurement Tool (HEMT) was developed using a design-based research method with three iterative macrocycles of design, experiment, and retrospective analysis. The study involved question responses from 276 students in grade 8 studying WWI trench warfare. The research resulted in a framework of seven levels. (0) Non-response, (1) Facts, (2) Assumptions and Deficits, (3) General Comparison of the Past and Present, (4) Emotional Comparison of the Past and Present, (5) Understanding Motives, Behaviors, Thoughts, & Emotions in the Past, and (6) Acknowledgement of Differences from those in the Past. The inter-rater reliability at the end of macrocycle three was 95%.