Ethical Behaviour in Search and Rescue: A Scale Development Research

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a measurement tool with proven validity and reliability to measure ethical behavior in search and rescue. Materials and Method: Exploratory sequential mixed method was preferred in the study. The first stage started with a qualitative study to create the item pool. Interviews with 16 search and rescue personnel were conducted through semi-structured forms. 38 items were created. The content validity of the item pool was evaluated with expert opinion. Lawshe technique was used to evaluate expert responses. Then, the item pool, which was subjected to language and spelling control, was piloted with 10 participants. After necessary adjustments were made, the draft scale was administered to 330 personnel. Results: As a result of the analysis, the scale showed a unidimensional structure consisting of 10 items. The obtained scale was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability of the scale of ethical behavior in search and rescue was evaluated by Cronbach's Alpha and it was determined that the scale had high reliability and internal consistency with .95. Conclusion: The developed “Ethical Behavior in Search and Rescue Scale” can be applied to all individuals operating in the field of search and rescue. Keywords: Search and rescue, Ethics, Mixed Method, Scale, Scale development