The Validity and Reliability Work of the Scale That Determines the Level of the Trauma After the Earthquake

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to develop a short, comprehensible, easy, applicable, and appropriate for cultural characteristics scale that can be evaluated in mental traumas concerning earthquake. The universe of the research consisted of all individuals living under the effects of the earthquakes which occurred in Tabanli Village on 23.10.2011 and in Van, Edremit on 09.11.2011. The intensity of these earthquakes were 7,2 and 5,6 respectively according to the Richter scale. The sample of the research was determined according to the simple random and purposeful methods in this universe. 1505 individuals (401 females, 1104 males) were determined according to this generated the sample of the research. The age range of these individuals was between 15 and 86. According to Exploratory Factor Analysis, the scale was constituted of five sub-factors. Thus, the first factor is "Behavior Problems"; the second factor is "Emotive Limitedness"; the third factor is "Affective"; the fourth factor is "Cognitive Structures" and the fifth factor is "Sleep Problems". Also Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the construction of the scale which was constituted by Exploratory Factor Analysis. The reliability finding showed sufficient and appropriate level that Cronbach Alfa Reliability Coefficient was used to determine it. After all, it can be said that the Scale That Determines the Level of the Trauma after the earthquake is a measurement tool which has the validity and reliability values used for the aim of screening after earthquake, of measuring the level of trauma after earthquake.