Developing an emotional intelligence enhancement package for Primary school students with special reference to emotional competencies

Abstract

The study focuses on the development of an Emotional Intelligence Enhancement Package (EIEP) for primary school students with special reference to emotional competencies. As a prelude to the experiment, the Investigator analysed the level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) of primary school students through a survey using a standardised Emotional Intelligence Test (EIT). The analysis of data revealed that EI of primary school students varies in accordance with gender, locale, economic status, type of family, literacy of parents, and type and nature of the schools. For the total EI, girls are found superior to boys. Students of APL family, students from joint family, and students of literate parents have high level of EI than students of BPL family, students coming from nuclear family and students of illiterate parents respectively. In the case of locale, type of schools and nature of schools also, there are significant variations on the level of EI among the students. Moreover, they were found to be in need of training on the five dimensions of emotional competencies such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills for their enhancement. Based on these emotional competencies, a package was prepared called EIEP and trained the students with experiential training. The effectiveness of the developed EIEP was assessed through EIT. The quantitative analysis of data collected was done using the t-test and ANCOVA. The findings of the study revealed that for the total EI and all of its dimensions there are significant enhancement after the intervention of EIEP. Feedbacks were collected from the students to know how they feel about the training. In order to propose the application dynamics of the study, suggestions and recommendations were also collected from a team of experts. Both these appraisal results revealed the quality of the EIEP and most of the experts recommended it for practice in school work.