Description of the EQ-i, EQ-360 and EQ-i:YVDate of publication: 04/25/2007 This section of the website describes in detail the EQ-i (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory), EQ-360 (BarOn Emotional Quotient – 360) and EQ-i:YV (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory Youth Version). The EQ-i (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory)The EQ-i is a self-report measure of emotionally and socially intelligent behavior that provides an estimate of emotional-social intelligence. The EQ-i is the first measure of its kind to be published by a psychological test publisher, the first such measure to be peer-reviewed in the Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook, and the most widely used measure of emotional-social intelligence. A detailed description of the EQ-i and how it was developed is found in the 1997 BarOn EQ-i Technical Manual, the 1999 edition of Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook and in Geher’s book titled Measuring Emotional Intelligence published in 2004. The EQ-i comprises 133 items in the form of short sentences and employs a 5-point response scale with a textual response format ranging from "very seldom or not true of me" (1) to "very often true of me or true of me" (5). The EQ-i is suitable for individuals 17 years of age and older. Based on the Flesch formula of readability, the reading level in English has been assessed at the North American sixth grade level. It takes approximately 40 minutes to complete the inventory; and it typically takes less time to complete the online version than the paper-and-pencil version of the instrument. A list of the inventory's items is found in the BarOn EQ-i Technical Manual. The individual’s responses render a total EQ score as well as scores on the following 5 composite scales and 15 subscales:
The EI competencies, skills and facilitators measured by the above scales were previously defined. The EQ-i includes the following four validity indicators:
This psychometric instrument has a built-in correction factor that automatically adjusts the scale scores based on the Positive Impression and Negative Impression scale scores. This is an important feature for self-report measures in that it reduces the distorting effects of social response bias (such as “faking good” and “faking bad”), thereby, increasing the accuracy of the results obtained. The effectiveness of this component has been confirmed by the fairly high degree of overall correlation (R=.69) between observer ratings of the behavior assessed by the EQ-i and the scores of 185 individuals who completed this instrument. The findings of this study are summarized in the BarOn EQ-360: Technical Manual and will be briefly discussed below when describing the EQ-360. Moreover, findings from the same study empirically demonstrate that the difference between the self-report and other-observer assessment of EI is negligible when using the EQ-i. Raw scores on the EQ-i are automatically tabulated and converted into standard scores based on a mean of 100 and standard deviations of 15. This scoring system resembles that which is used by cognitive intelligence tests that generate an IQ (or Intelligence Quotient), which is exactly what I had in mind when I coined the term “EQ” (“Emotional Quotient”) during my doctoral studies in the mid 1980s. Average to above average scores on the EQ-i suggest that the respondent is effective in emotional and social functioning, meaning that he or she is most likely emotionally and socially intelligent. The higher the scores, the more positive the prediction for effective functioning in meeting environmental demands and pressures. On the other hand, an inability to be effective in performing well and the possible existence of emotional, social and/or behavioral problems are suggested by low scores. Significantly low scores on the following subscales indicate the potential for serious difficulties in coping on a daily basis: Stress Tolerance, Impulse Control, Reality Testing, and Problem Solving. In addition to the 133-item version, there are 125-item and 51-item versions of the EQ-i. The 125-item version (BarOn EQ-i:125) generates all of the above-mentioned scale and subscale scores generated by the 133-item version except for Negative Impression scale scores, while the 51-item version (BarOn EQ-i:S) renders only the total EQ score, the 5 composite scale scores, the Positive Impression scale score and Inconsistency index. For more detailed information about the EQ-i, refer to the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory Technical Manual. This manual as well as copies of the measure can be purchased from Multi-Health Systems. The EQ-360 (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory -360)The EQ-360 (BarOn Emotional Quotient – 360) is a multi-rater version of the EQ-i. In brief, the EQ-360 comprises 88 items in the form of short sentences and employs a 5-point response format ranging from “very seldom or not true of him/her” (1) to “very often true or true of him/her” (5). It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and can be done online as well as in the paper-and-pencil format. This measure is used to assess individuals over 16 years of age. The EQ-360 possesses a factor structure identical to the EQ-i, which is based on the Bar-On model of emotional-social intelligence. The raters’ responses are averaged to create a total EQ score and the following 5 composite scale scores and 15 subscale scores:
The emotional-social intelligence competencies, skills and facilitators measured by the EQ-360 were previously described and defined when discussing the EQ-i scales. Raw scores are computer-tabulated and automatically converted into standard scores based on a mean of 100 and standard deviations of 15 identical with the EQ-i. It is important to point out that the EQ-i, upon which the EQ-360 was developed, is considered to be a valid and reliable measure of emotional intelligence based on independent review, as was previously mentioned, and as can be gleaned from the numerous studies that have examined the EQ-i to date. More succinctly, it is thought to be the most validated test of its kind based on numerous validity studies that have been conducted in a variety of settings worldwide from 1983 to the present. Moreover, the BarOn EQ-i is significantly correlated with other measures that were designed to assess various aspects of this construct, meaning that this instrument is reliably measuring what it was designed to measure (i.e., various aspects of emotional-social intelligence). Additionally, the EQ-360 is highly correlated with the EQ-i (R=.69) suggesting that both instruments are measuring the same content domain for the most part. It was found, moreover, that when the self-report and other-observer versions of the EQ-360 were compared, 89% of the comparisons examined failed to demonstrate significant differences; this means that there is nearly no significant difference between the self- and observer-ratings of EI based on the Bar-On psychometric model of this construct. This study is described in the BarOn Emotional Quotient - 360 Technical Manual (pp. 28-30). Based on the multi-rater, 360-degree and 3-dimensional approach, this instrument’s assessment modality first builds on a pool of raters who are able to observe the individual’s daily behavior from different perspectives. Ratings are typically made by managers, co-workers and direct reports at work, as well as by friends and family members. When these averaged ratings are then combined with the person’s own EQ-i scores, the results are able to fairly effectively assess EI and accurately identify both personal strengths and weaknesses to be addressed in coaching or counseling to facilitate a valuable growth experience. For more detailed information about the EQ-360, refer to the 2003 BarOn Emotional Quotient - 360 Technical Manual. This manual as well as copies of the measure can be purchased from Multi-Health Systems. The EQ-i:YV (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory Youth Version)The EQ-i:YV is a self-report psychometric instrument designed to measure emotionally and socially intelligent behavior in children and adolescents 7 to 18 years of age respectively. The EQ-i:YV is based on the Bar-On conceptual model of emotional-social intelligence, which also forms the theoretical basis of the EQ-i and EQ-360 as was previously discussed. A detailed description of EQ-i:YV and how it was developed and validated is found in the 2000 BarOn EQ-i:YV Technical Manual and in the 2001 edition of Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook. The EQ-i:YV consists of 60 items that are distributed across the following 7 scales:
Based on factor analysis, total EQ (which describes overall emotional-social intelligence) includes the following four factorial components: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Stress Management, and Adaptability. The EI domain measured by these scales was previously described. Although factor analysis did not confirm the existence of a “General Mood” factor as was the case with the EQ-i, a decision was made to retain this scale to provide the end-user with additional information regarding this facilitator of emotionally and socially intelligent behavior. Additionally, the EQ-i:YV contains a Positive Impression scale designed to identify individuals who may be attempting to create an exaggerated positive impression of themselves (“faking good”). And the instrument includes a correction factor that is used to adjust scores based on input from the Positive Impression scale, in order to correct for this type of social response bias. This instrument includes an additional validity scale that assesses item response inconsistency, the Inconsistency Index, designed to identify random and haphazard responding. Based on the large normative sample (N=9,172), 4 separate age groupings were created for males and 4 for females; these 8 different age/gender groupings are used to convert raw scores into standard scores according to the gender and age of the respondent. In addition to the 60-item version of the EQ-i:YV, there is a 30-item short version (the BarOn EQ-i:YV(S)) that provides all of the above-mentioned scale scores except for the General Mood scale score and the Inconsistency Index. The shorter 30-item version is more applicable for younger children as well as for children with reading problems and attention span deficiency. Both versions have a 4-point response format. The 60-item version’s response format ranges from “very seldom true of me” (1) to “very often true of me” (4), while the 30-item version’s response format ranges from “not true of me” (1) to “very much true of me” (4). Most respondents are able to complete the long form in 20 to 25 minutes and the short form in approximately 10 minutes. For more detailed information about the EQ-i:YV, refer to the 2000 BarOn Emotional Quotient Youth Version Technical Manual. This manual as well as copies of the measure can be purchased from Multi-Health Systems.
|
|
