Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Version of the Ethical Sensitivity Scale

This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Ethical Sensitivity Scale (ESS), utilizing secondary data collected from 327 Korean Catholic seminarians. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the retention of the seven-factor structure inherent in the original ESS, indicating an acceptable model fit. Items with insufficient standardized factor loadings were eliminated to optimize the model fit, resulting in a revised version of the scale. The revised ESS demonstrated strong overall reliability (Cronbach's alpha, α ≥ .80), with each subscale achieving the established threshold for internal consistency (α ≥ .70). These results provide strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the ESS, supporting its usefulness in research on ethical sensitivity. The Korean version of the ESS may be useful for educators in designing moral education programs that address students' ethical sensitivity across diverse academic disciplines. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution because this study relied on secondary data, limiting the assessment of some psychometric properties, and further validation in independent and more diverse samples is warranted.