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Journals / Sinop Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 10 Sayı: 1

Effective Communication and Empathy: A Study on the Professional Competencies of Special Education Teachers

Etkili İletişim ve Empati: Özel Eğitim Öğretmenlerinin Mesleki Yeterlikleri Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Ceylan Cinal(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİ, ÖZEL EĞİTİM BÖLÜMÜ, ZİHİN ENGELLİLER EĞİTİMİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-7054-2759
Sıla Doğmaz Tunalı(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİ, ÖZEL EĞİTİM BÖLÜMÜ, ZİHİN ENGELLİLER EĞİTİMİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-8040-8409
Ahmet İlkhan Yetkin(İNÖNÜ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİ, ÖZEL EĞİTİM BÖLÜMÜ, ZİHİN ENGELLİLER EĞİTİMİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-1199-7283
Pages
547–585
Publication Date
2026-05-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

As a result, it was emphasized that for teachers to use empathy and communication skills effectively regardless of demographic factors such as gender, marital status and age, these skills should be continuingly strengthened.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between special education teachers' empathy levels and their ability to communicate effectively.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The study was conducted with 115 teachers working in the field of special education throughout Turkey.
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Conclusion & Impact:As a result, it was emphasized that for teachers to use empathy and communication skills effectively regardless of demographic factors such as gender, marital status and age, these skills should be continuingly strengthened.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Özel Eğitim · Öğretmen · Empati

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between special education teachers' empathy levels and their ability to communicate effectively. The study was shaped with the hypothesis that empathy, as a basic element of communication, enab-les people to better understand the feelings of the other person and thus will make communication more effective. The study was conducted with 115 teachers working in the field of special education throughout Turkey. Relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study and the data were analyzed with the statistical package program SPSS 27. When the findings obtained from the research were analyzed, it was determined that special education teachers' empathy levels were high and their ability to create effective communication was sufficient. A positive relationship was found between teachers' empathy levels and their ability to commu-nicate effectively. This finding is an indication that teachers' high levels of empathy support their ability to communicate effectively and provide equal opportunities. When the empathy levels and effective communication skills of teachers were analy-zed according to gender, age, marital status, the type of disability they work with and the level of the disability, it was seen that the gender variable created a significant difference while the age variable did not create a significant difference. As a result, it was emphasized that for teachers to use empathy and communication skills effectively regardless of demographic factors such as gender, marital status and age, these skills should be continuingly strengthened.

Özet

Bu çalışmanın amacı, özel eğitim öğretmenlerinin empati düzeyleri ile etkili iletişim kurma becerileri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Empati, iletişimin temel bir unsuru olarak, insanların karşılarındaki kişinin duygularını daha iyi anlayabilmelerini sağla-maktadır ve böylece iletişimin daha etkili olmasını sağlayacağı hipotezi ile çalışma şekillendirilmiştir. Araştırma; Türkiye genelinde görev yapan özel eğitim alanında çalışan 115 öğretmen ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada nicel araştırma yöntemlerin-den ilişkisel tarama deseni kullanılmış, veriler istatistik paket programı SPSS 27 ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgular incelendiğinde, özel eğitim öğret-menlerinin empati düzeylerinin yüksek, etkili iletişim oluşturma becerilerinin yeterli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Öğretmenlerin empati düzeyleri ile etkili iletişim oluşturma becerileri arasında pozitif yönlü bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Bu bulgu, öğretmenlerin empati düzeylerindeki yüksekli-ğin etkili iletişim kurma ve fırsat eşitliği sağlama becerilerini desteklediğinin bir göstergesidir. Öğretmenlerin empati düzeyleri ve etkili iletişim oluşturma becerileri ile cinsiyet, yaş, medeni durum, çalıştıkları yetersizlik türü ve yetersizliğin düzeyi değişkenlerine incelendiğinde cinsiyet değişkeni anlamlı bir farklılık yaratırken yaş değişkeninin anlamlı bir farklılık yaratmadığı görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak, Öğretmenlerin cinsiyet, medeni durum ve yaş gibi demografik faktörlerden bağımsız olarak empati ve iletişim becerilerini etkili bir şekilde kullanabilmeleri için bu becerilerin sürekli olarak güçlendirilmesinin gerekliliği vurgulanmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Cinal, C., Tunalı, S. D., Yetkin, A. İ. (2026). Effective Communication and Empathy: A Study on the Professional Competencies of Special Education Teachers. Sinop Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 1, 547–585. https://doi.org/10.30561/sinopusd.1836318

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