| This study utilized Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) (2004b)for quasi-experimental study of the acquisition of EI abilities through education. Four groups of college students (n = 251), from three different universities in a small midwestern state formed the sample. Two of the groups were pre-professional students intending a major of education or nursing. The other two groups were made up college seniors in either education or nursing majors.; Findings of this study provided mixed support for the assertion related to acquisition of skills within the Mayer & Salovey (2004) EI Abilities Model through education. ANOVA, MANOVA and t-test found no significant differences between groups for overall EI or branch scores of using emotions, or managing emotions. Senior education and nursing majors scored significantly higher on the ability to understand and reason about emotions (p < .05) over pre-professional students. However, the pre-professional students demonstrated a higher level of perceiving emotion (p < .05). One significant predicator of overall EI identified by regression was self-estimated student GPA that increased the variance by .041. |
