Epistemic Orientation Short Scale: Development and Validity Evidence in a Sample of Psychotherapists/ Escala Breve de Orientacao Epistemica: Desenvolvimento e Evidencia de Validade em uma Amostra de Psicoterapeutas/ Escala Breve de Orientacion Epistemica: Desarrollo y Evidencia de Validez en una Muestra de Psicoterapeutas

• Published in: Paidéia cadernos de Psicologia e Educação 2018-01, Vol.28
• Main Authors: Palma, Emanuel Missias Silva, Gondim, Sonia Maria Guedes, Aguiar, Carolina Villa Nova
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Analysis; Psychotherapy
• ISSN: 1982-4327
• DOI: 10.1590/1982-4327e2817

Epistemic orientation refers to the preferred mode of accessing and using knowledge and is a construct of growing interest in psychotherapy research. In this context, the main objective of this study was to develop and provide initial validity evidence for a brief measure of epistemic orientation in a sample of Brazilian psychotherapists. Participants were 674 Brazilian psychotherapists (78.5% female), aged between 22 and 78 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on different subsamples to establish the structure of the measure. Results revealed an instrument consisting of three factors (Rationalism, Intuitionism, and Empiricism) with good psychometric properties and fit indices ([X.sup.2] = 1.92, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.95 and RMSE[ALPHA] = 0.06). Factors exhibited good internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity. Criterion validity was evaluated by examining the scale's ability to detect differences in the epistemic orientation dimensions as a function of therapist's theoretical approach. Overall, the scale proved to be a valid self-report measure for investigating personal epistemology.