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Table 1 Summary of the empathy SJT item content

From: Situational judgment test validity: an exploratory model of the participant response process using cognitive and think-aloud interviews

Item label

Component

Setting

Item summary

CH1

Cognitive

Healthcare

A patient complains that the doctor never listens to them

CH2

Cognitive

Healthcare

A provider has trouble getting a medication history from a pharmacist

CH3

Cognitive

Healthcare

You suspect a patient is lying about their diabetes management

CN1

Cognitive

Non-healthcare

A friend is going to use unprescribed medications to help them study

CN2

Cognitive

Non-healthcare

A woman asks you to cut in line at a store when you’re late

CN3

Cognitive

Non-healthcare

Your family questions your sibling’s relationship status

AH1

Affective

Healthcare

A patient discusses the recent loss of a loved one

AH2

Affective

Healthcare

A nurse asks you to discuss a medication error with family

AH3

Affective

Healthcare

A family gets upset while you review their chemotherapy

AN1

Affective

Non-healthcare

A parent quickly becomes upset at a grocery store

AN2

Affective

Non-healthcare

A relative is upset about difficulty conceiving

AN3

Affective

Non-healthcare

A best friend is visiting and planning to drop out of college

ITEM: CN2

You go to the store to pick up a few things you forgot for a presentation. While standing in line at checkout, someone approaches you and asks if they can cut in front of you. However, there are already 5 people behind you. They mention that their children are at home sick and they are trying to get back as quickly as possible. Letting the person go in front of you will definitely make you late for your presentation.

Rank each of the following response options based on how you SHOULD respond to the scenario. Use 1 to indicate the MOST appropriate response and 5 to indicate the LEAST appropriate response. There can be no ties or duplicates.

_____ Ask the people behind you if they would mind having the person go in front of you.

_____ Acknowledge their situation and let them go in front of you.

_____ Tell them no and that they need to get in line like all the others.

_____ Ask the person what is wrong with their child and determine whether they cut can based on their response.

_____ Tell them that you are also in a rush and ask if they could cut in front of the person behind you.

  1. Notes: A Affective Empathy, C Cognitive Empathy, H Healthcare Setting, N Non-Healthcare Setting; 1, 2, 3 = Item Number