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Interdisciplinaria

On-line version ISSN 1668-7027

Abstract

REGNER, Evangelina. Convergent and discriminant validaty of Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i). Interdisciplinaria [online]. 2008, vol.25, n.1, pp.29-51. ISSN 1668-7027.

In the last few years, the emotional intelligence construct, defined by Salovey and Mayer (1990) as a domain of abilities specifically linked to the perception and utilization of emotions, has been the main core of different researches which have made an effort to measure and study this construct, yet there is no consensus regarding its definition and model. Integrating the theories existing up to this moment, Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso (2000) suggested that it is possible to distinguish between models based on ability (Mayer, Di Paolo & Salovey, 1990; Mayer & Salovey, 1997), and models based on features or mixed models (Goleman, 1996, 1999; Bar-On, 1997a, 1997b). Models founded on ability are based in the original conceptualization of emotional intelligence as defined by Salovey and Mayer (1990), which is characterized as a set of the abilities to perceive, understand and regulate emotions, and which are evaluated by means of tasks or tests of performance. On the other hand, mixed models, or based on features of emotional intelligence, are those which consider that abilities are associated to the processing and the use of emotions, combining those abilities with a wide variety of personality aspects, and which are evaluated by means of self-report measures. Bearing in mind that the approach used when measuring emotional intelligence could influence the validity of the construct, the latest developments have been focused in the study of psychometric properties of the tests. Specifically, most of the current research on this topic is centered in the study of what the test measures, in the most adequate methods used to measure emotional intelligence and whether the tests may be differentiated from other tests that measure abilities and personality aspects (Brackett & Mayer, 2003; Chapman & Hayslip, 2005; Palmer, 2003). Taking into account previous research which took place in other countries, the objective of this paper was to study the convergent and discriminant validity of an emotional intelligence self-report test, the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), which is based in Bar-On's mixed or feature model (1997a; 1997b), in an Argentinean sample of 100 adults between 25 and 50 years old of both sexes. Tests administered were EQ-i, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) by Costa and McCrae (1992), and the Test of Verbal Intelligence or Reasoning (RV) by Bennet, Seashore and Wesman (1992). Correlations among EQ-i, NEO PI-R and RV and multiple stepwise regressions between NEO PI-R personality factors and EQ-i emotional intelligence scales were carried out in order to study the convergent and discriminant validity of the test. The results obtained showed very low correlations between EQ-i and verbal intelligence (r = .07 to .27). On the contrary, significant correlations were observed between EQ-i and personality factors, especially between the neuroticism factor and EQ-i (r = -.66 to -.72). Likewise, results showed that the five NEO PI-R factors contributed significantly to the prediction of EQ-i, being neuroticism the factor which contributed the most in the prediction of EQ-i. According to the results observed in the sample studied, we can conclude that the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) measures personality related attributes more likely than intelligence related attributes. The results attained in this study provide further support on the matter that EQ-i is not easily distinguished from the NEO PI-R. Indeed, they are similar to the findings of other studies which have taken place in different countries regarding the validity of the emotional intelligence construct.

Keywords : Emotional intelligence; EQ-i; Personality; NEO PI-R; Verbal intelligence; Verbal reasoning.

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