Emotional intelligence : an investigation of discriminant and concurrent validity / Andrea Kohan.

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (El) is a popularized concept, but one also being empirically examined for its validity as a construct of intelligence. Research has focused on determining its status as a unique ability that is distinct from personality and associated with adaptability. Data thus far equivocally support the conceptualization of El as an aspect of intelligence, and point to limitations of selfreport measures designed to assess it The purpose of this study was to contribute information to the area by examining the discriminant and concurrent validity of two relatively new self-report measures of El. Specifically, the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi; Bar-On, 1997a) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS; Schutte et al., 1998) were examined in relation to the five-factor model (FFM) of personality and burnout, an index of response to demands in the workplace. University students, police officers and retail managers completed the El and personality measures, and the two types of workers also completed self-report measures of potential work demands, work resources, and burnout. Factor solutions revealed a lack of independence between El measures and FFM domains, except for two EIS factors, which corresponded to two theoretical aspects of El: emotional appraisal and emotional utilization. Concurrent analyses showed that El played a minimal moderating role in the experience of burnout. Collectively, the data provide controvertible evidence for the existence of unique EIS factors, but highlight the merit of further inquiry using these two measures of El. Other findings lent support to the importance of (1) work demands to burnout over and above personality, (2) the mediating effects of cynicism in the experience of burnout, and (3) considering workers’ perceptions of the organization as resources against burnout