Research Questions on Empathy

What if I don’t have an experience/answer for certain questions?

You can type in N/A (not applicable) and skip over it.

Can I share other people’s experiences if I don’t have a relevant personal experience?

We’d prefer you share firsthand experiences in which you were directly involved. If you don’t have a personal experience but directly observed another person’s experience, then feel free to share it.

However, if it’s an experience you did not observe but simply heard about, you can type in N/A and move on to the next question.

I have two or more examples for one of the questions. Which should I share?

We would encourage you to share all the examples you have for a particular question. The more you share, the more it will add to this research, which will help in developing the best resource possible on empathy.

What if I am not able to finish the survey by the deadline date?

You can just return what you have completed, even if you didn’t get to all the questions. We value any information and experiences you can share with us.

Who will see my responses?

Only a very small number of research staff will see your responses, and we will keep this information confidential. When we use real-life examples in our resources, we always disguise identifying details to protect confidentiality, and we don’t use anyone’s name with a quote or example without their permission.

What kind of resource will you be developing based on this research?

Most likely, the resource will be a book. Based on the information we gather in our research, we might also develop other materials later, such as a workshop, study guide, training materials, or Stephen Minister continuing education module about empathy. As we assess the research results, we’ll get a clearer picture of how best to use what we’ve learned.

When will this resource be done?

We’re still working out the specific timeline, but we hope that it will be completed within the next year or two. The reason for the urgency in returning this survey is so we can keep this project moving along—because people everywhere would benefit from the material in their everyday caring and relating.

Will this be a resource for Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers?

It will really be a resource for anyone. It will definitely be beneficial to Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers as a way to enhance their caregiving, and it would be great material for Stephen Minister continuing education. But the intended audience is much wider. We’ll be developing a resource that anyone would benefit from reading because it will enhance the way they relate to everyone in their life—family, friends, neighbors, people at work, other members at their church, and even total strangers.