| Emotional intelligence has received much attention in the literature in the past two decades. It has been likened to social intelligence, something that is distinct from cognitive ability, suggesting that both cognitive and emotional aspects of intelligence need to be looked at when trying to understand the concept of intelligence. This study; examines the relationship between emotional intelligence and cognitive ability in predicting academic achievement by using Mayer, Salovey, and Caruso's (1997) four branched model of emotional intelligence. The Mayer, Salovey, Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) research version 2.0 was used to predict performance in college. The predictive ability of emotional intelligence as measured by the MSCEIT was assessed by correlating MSCEIT scores from 237 Rutgers University students with their cumulative GPA. The relative predictive ability of emotional intelligence over SAT and the incremental predictive validity were explored using a multiple regression analysis. Results did not find any significant prediction of performance by emotional intelligence alone, or combined with SAT. Emotional intelligence also did not account for any additional variance in GPA beyond that accounted for by cognitive ability as measured by SAT. This study did not substantiate claims that emotional intelligence will predict success in college. |
