Need for Cognition and Trait Emotional Intelligence in Relation to Academic Achievement of Higher Secondary Students

Abstract

This study investigates the need for cognition and trait emotional intelligence of higher secondary students and their relationship to academic achievement. This study also examined the effect of some demographic variables like gender, locale, medium of instruction, order of birth of students on the chosen variables. The study employed a survey method for data collection. The sample comprised 313 (150 boys and 163 girls) higher secondary school students. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-short form (TEIQue–SF; Petrides, 2009) and Need for Cognition Scale (Cacioppo et al., 1984) were used for the study. The results revealed that boys and girls are similar in their need for cognition and trait emotional intelligence. Also, girls outperformed boys academically. Results also show that trait emotional intelligence has a significant effect on academic achievement. There is also a statistically significant relationship between the need for cognition and trait emotional intelligence.