Assessing the Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance of Quantity Surveying Students

Abstract

Previous studies have established that Emotional Intelligence (EI) has an effect on the performance of students. EI of construction students has been found to be lower than their counterparts in other disciplines. These studies, however did not evaluate the EI in relation to performance. Thus this creates a gap with regards to the relationship of EI and the academic performance of construction students. Therefore, this study assessed the emotional intelligence and academic performance among quantity surveying students. Data were collected by means of closed–ended questionnaires, which were administered online. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive (Mean, Frequency and Standard Deviations) and inferential (Analysis of Variance) statistics through the use of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS software). The 16-item Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale was used to evaluate the level of emotional intelligence and explore the effect on academic performance. The results of the study indicated that quantity surveying students have a high level of EI, and a significant difference was found between students EI and academic performance. Students with higher Academic performance were found to have higher level of Self-Emotion Appraisal (SEA) and Use of Emotions (UOE). However, the results did not show a significant difference under Others’ Emotion Appraisal (OEA) and Regulation of Emotions (ROE). Thus this study concluded that EI of quantity surveying students gave an indication of the level of academic performance (CGPA) and therefore recommends that EI should be incorporated into academic curricula to improve the EI level of construction
students.