EI Measurement

Because there are a number of concepts which are associated with EI, and the field is continuing to expand, this means that no standard has been developed for properly measuring EI. However, there are a number of common ways in which this phenomenon can be viewed, and in this lies the key to properly measuring it.

One way of analyzing EI is to study one’s attunement to the social norms which surround them. One example of a test which is used to measure this is the MSCEIT. While this test is useful in analyzing one’s emotional intelligence, it differs from the traditional IQ test in a number of different ways. In most cases, EI tests will be scored by experts, or those that specialize in emotional research.

The MSCEIT differs from the standard IQ test simply because the items on the test don’t have responses which are objectively right or wrong. The consensus scoring which is used for this test means that it is not possible for one to generate questions which only a small group of people are capable of solving, and the reason for this is because the responses which are given on the test are based on being "emotionally intelligent," and this is true only if a large portion of the sample has properly provided their endorsement. Because of this and many other challenges, some critics begin to question EI as a true form of intelligence.

One newer term that has been used to describe emotional intelligence is EQ, or Emotional Quotient. This term defines emotional intelligence as the ability for an individual to understand both themselves and those around them. A person with a high EQ is someone who can relate to people easily, and can cope and adapt to their surroundings in a manner which makes them socially effective.

The research done on EQ indicates that it is something that grows over time, and that it can be enhanced through training or therapy. A person who has a high EQ can typically work better under pressure and more quickly adapt to their environments. Those who have a low EQ tend to have many emotional problems, which can lead to failure in many areas of life.

Factors Which Influence EQ

In addition to the factors mentioned in the last paragraph, there are a number of other factors which could be associated with a high or low EQ. A person who has a high EQ will generally be good at solving problems, but the problems they will be good at solving may be different from those that have a low EQ.

A person with a high EQ is very socially adept. They tend to manage their stress quite well, and they also have a great deal of control over their impulses. This means that someone with a high EQ is very unlikely to become addicted to any controlled substances. Many researches feel that emotional intelligence is directly associated with a person’s general intelligence.

Many proponents of EQ and EI argue that the best way to measure someone is to determine how well they can thrive with the demands and pressures which come from their environment. A group of questions could be used to come up with an EQ score, and it would result in five composite scores.

These five scores would correspond with the main components of the model associated with the test. The only weakness to some test models is that they may be susceptible to cheating on the part of those taking them. Some EQ measurement options don’t take the time to determine the skills or abilities of the test takers. Instead, they focus on the trait emotional intelligence.

Measurements for Trait Emotional Intelligence

In most cases, the trait emotional intelligence test will analyze the EI of individuals based on their personality. The test makes use of 15 scales which are structured in four ways, and this is the sociability, emotionality, self control, and well being of the individual. The interesting thing about this test is that it is distributed globally.

In addition to this, the test is highly reliable. While some have said that EI is closely associated with non-verbal reasoning, the Trait emotional intelligence tests have indicated that this is not the case. The scores for this test are closely connected to things such as openness, extraversion, and agreeableness. Because EI is a new field, it will take time for tests to be evaluated.