The following writing sample is a literature review for the 508 class – project. The literature review is on the topic of emotional intelligence and academic performance. Whether emotional intelligence has an influence on academic performance. The literature review consists of ten research articles, focusing on relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance. The review gives information about the theoretical models of emotional intelligence , the need for studying emotional intelligence, the importance of academic performance and lastly the relationship between the two and future scope for the research.
Literature Review
Introduction:
Study conducted by Kulhens 1952 revealed that emotional tension affects the efficiency of the individual, mood, and behavior. It also affects memory, leads to learning disability, also bringing changes in our attitude towards life (Mishra 2004). Studies also revealed that emotional health is fundamental to effective learning. According to the report presented by National center of clinical infant programs, emotional intelligence is the most critical element in understanding how to learn (Chamundeshwari 2007). Thus it is important to study emotional intelligence and its effect on academic achievement. Research findings reveal that emotional intelligence is a better predictor of success that GPA and IQ test.
There have been several research done on emotional intelligence however Mayer and Salovey were the first to study emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence as defined by Mayer and Salovey is the ability understand ones and others emotions, integrate this understanding into thinking. It also refers to the ability to regulate emotions. There are several tests of measurement to assess an individual’s level of emotional intelligence. Different researchers use different scales to assess emotional intelligence. Hence there is yet a uniform tool of assessment with regards to emotional. The reason why there are different tool of assessment is because of cultural factors, however it also raises the question of whether the results would be same when emotional intelligence is measured using another tool of measurement. On the other hand academic achievement is assessed by taking into consideration an individual’s grade point average. This remains consistent among all the studies that have been conducted. (Chamundeshwari, 2007; Mishra,2004;Roy, Sinha, Suman, 2012)
Though studying the effect of emotional intelligence on academic achievement is essential, past research conduct varied from each other significant with regards to the measures used as well as the conceptual definition they adapted.
Emotional Intelligence:
Emotions play a vital role in our life. There are two types of emotions: positive and negative. Both the types of emotions have an effect on our behavior and thought process. It is of at most importance to be able identify the emotions that we experience, mange emotions and to integrate this information in out thought process. Hence it is essential to study emotional intelligence. There are several conceptual models of Emotional Intelligence. The popular ones are the ability theory of emotional quotient by Mayer et al, Mixed – personality and socio – emotional definitions employed by Bar- on and Goleman respectively.
Emotional intelligence refers to an individual ability to identify his or her own as well as others emotions, manage emotions as well as integrate the information into one’s own thinking. Bar-on defined emotional intelligence as cognitive ability and competencies that influences one’s ability to cope with environmental demands. Within Bar-On’s model there are five domains: Intrapersonal Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Adaptability, Stress Management, and General Mood. According to Goleman emotional intelligence refers to the ability of an individual to identify emotions, manage emotions, motivate oneself and also control impulses. He has put forth five components of emotional intelligence they are as follows: Self – regulation, Self – awareness, Motivation, Empathy and Social skills. Based on Mayer et al model of emotional intelligence there are four major characteristics they are as follows: Perception and Expression of emotion, Assimilating emotion in thought, Understanding and analyzing emotion, and reflective regulation of emotion.
Goleman stated that there different theories about Emotional intelligence and even though they all take a unique approach towards it, there is a common aspect that is they all describe emotional intelligence with regards to abilities to recognize and regulate emotion both in oneself and others.
The topic of emotional intelligence has been an important one in the field of education and management (Maraichelvi and Rajan, 2013). Several studies that have been conducted have investigated Emotional intelligence in relation to work performance. Studies have reported that individuals with higher level of emotional intelligence perform effectively at work. There are studies that examine emotional intelligence and learning disability, at the same time the influence of emotional intelligence on academic performance. There are various tests that assess an individual emotional intelligence level such as The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso emotional intelligence test (MCSCEIT), Emotional intelligence scale by Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence scale by Hydes and others etc.
Academic Performance:
School life consists not just of studying different subjects but also involves extra-curricular activities (sports, cultural events, internships etc.). However the research has focused on studying relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance – where academic performance is looked at with regards to Grade point Average – their overall score in exams, test etc. Mishra (2004) stated in her research that academic success is major concern of educational policy makers. Environment both outside and inside of the school has an influence on academic performance of the individual. Learning styles, Anxiety, Socio-economic factors, parenting style etc are some of the factors that affect academic performance. “Emotion is the basis of all interests and motivations and so is directly related to all human performances and achievements” (Mishra, 2004). Baduria 2013, in his research stated that it is essential that students are taught emotional skills, he claimed that this would have a positive effect on academic success. He also reported that it would be beneficial not just during school years but the years that follow afterwards. Ellija et al in their research stated that there are long term positive effect of teaching emotional and social skills which is directly connected to academic success. Hence it is important to study the relation between emotional intelligence and academic performance, so see if emotional intelligence has an effect on academic performance of an individual.
Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance:
The trend that I have noticed amongst the studies that I have read for my research is that, each research or every study conducted uses different test to measure emotional intelligence of the individuals. Also the sample on whom the study is conducted widely differs from each other – few have focused on secondary and higher secondary students, while there are research done trying to study the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance among medical students, nursing student etc. Also most of studies reported in the literature review are the ones that have been conducted in India, Pakistan, Indonesia etc (Asian countries). Hence the question arises of whether if the studies were conducted using different test to measure emotional intelligence will the results be different? At the same time it also triggers the questions of – since the studies were conducted in different countries addressing individuals of different culture, the scale used could be best suited according to the context and culture. However very few of the research reported in this literature review present rationale of why there are using specific tests, and why they are conducting research on a particular population instead of the other. A common link between the studies is that, all the studies measure academic performance by taking into consideration the aggregate scores of the students in a year or semester i.e. GPA.
There have been several studies conducted which have reported correlation between emotional intelligence and academic performance ( Mishra, 2004; Chamundeshwari, 2013; Maraichelvi & Rajan, 2013; Parker et al, 2005; Farooq, 2003; Chew, Zain and Hassan, 2013). In a study conducted by Chamundeshwari (2013), it was found that there is a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and academic performance of students at higher secondary level. The study aimed at investigating whether emotional intelligence affect academic performance and if so is there is a difference between the different boards of education such as central board, state board and matriculation. Results showed that students in central board had higher level of academic performance compared to students from state board and matriculation. At the same time students from central board of education have higher emotional intelligence level than compared to students from state board, however not different from matriculation. Another study was conducted on 1000 (500 girls and 500 boys) senior secondary students, revealed that there was a positive relation between emotional intelligence and academic performance. The study also stated that this was particularly true for girls that there is positive correlation was found between emotional intelligence and academic performance (Mishra 2004). Likewise, Maraichelvi & Rajan (2013), reported that there is a positive relation between emotional intelligence and academic performance among final year graduate students. Chamundeshwari (2013) reported in her study the research conducted by Parker and others (2005) where they examined the impact of emotional intelligence on the successful transition from high school to university. The findings of the study stated that emotional intelligence plays significant role in academic performance – it reported that students who were academically successful were those whose emotional intelligence level was high. In another study presented by Chamindushwari, where researcher, Farooq (2003) investigated the effect of emotional intelligence on academic performance of 246 adolescent students. Findings of the study revealed that students with high level of emotional intelligence show better academic performance than compared to those who have low emotional intelligence. There have also been studies that show no relation between emotional intelligence and academic performance. They have reported that indeed emotional intelligence has no effect on academic performance. Studies have also reported that it is essential that further research be conducted examining the relationship between the two variables. Maraichelvi & Rajan (2013) in their research presented findings of research conducted by Koifman and Zee, et al which stated that there is no relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement.
Future Scope and conclusion:
Though there have been several studies that have reported positive correlation between emotional intelligence and academic performance, there have been studies that say otherwise. It is firmly established that emotional intelligence to a large extent influences an individual’s performance in different aspects of life. Due to various theoretical models of emotional intelligence – there are different tests available. Some tests are culture specific. Since these tests are based on one of the theoretical model – they lack uniformity in the factors that they measure even though they all assess emotional intelligence level of an individual. It is quite possible that results may vary depending upon which test is used to assess emotional intelligence. Hence in order to establish a firm empirical ground is it important that there is a uniformity, a standardization with regards to the test used to assess emotional intelligence. Another area of concern is different set of models that define emotional intelligence different. The question arises whether if there is only one way of conceptually defining emotional intelligence it will lead to different results. These are some of the concerns which could be addressed by future research.
Thus on the basis of literature review, it could be stated that there is a relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance. At the same time it could also inferred that development of emotional and social skills will be beneficial for success not just in school but in future years to come.
