An Investigation of the Psychometric Properties of Emotional Intelligence Scale Using Item Response Theory

Abstract

Students’ emotional intelligence represents an important variable that is connected to students’ academic achievement and life success. One main challenge when measuring students’ emotional intelligence is to have a valid and reliable measure that captures this emotional construct. The current study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Alsmadoni emotional intelligence scale (AEIS-25) using item response theory (IRT) models. The study was applied among 3030 students in grades 7-10 in Oman. Data model fit was examined through evaluating IRT assumptions (i.e. unidimensional assumption and local independence assumption) and goodness of fit (i.e. items fit and persons fit). It was found that item parameters were acceptable and satisfactory, which indicates the appropriateness of AEIS to examine emotional intelligence among adolescents. Findings from exploratory factor analysis for 2924 students and for the remaining 24 items indicated the presence of a 2-factor model since the third factor was loaded by only one item. AEIS was considered as a reliable and potentially valid measure of trait emotional intelligence.