What Is the Ability Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) Good for? An Evaluation Using Item Response Theory

Abstract

The ability approach has been indicated as promising for advancing research in emotional intelligence (EI). However, there is scarcity of tests measuring EI as a form of intelligence. The Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, or MSCEIT, is among the few available and the most widespread measure of EI as an ability. This implies that conclusions about the value of EI as a meaningful construct and about its utility in predicting various outcomes mainly rely on the properties of this test. We tested whether individuals who have the highest probability of choosing the most correct response on any item of the test are also those who have the strongest EI ability. Results showed that this is not the case for most items: The answer indicated by experts as the most correct in several cases was not associated with the highest ability; furthermore, items appeared too easy to challenge individuals high in EI. Overall results suggest that the MSCEIT is best suited to discriminate persons at the low end of the trait. Results are discussed in light of applied and theoretical considerations.

The relation between emotional intelligence and subjective well-being: A meta-analytic investigation

“…The causes of these results may be due to the relatively different mental processes that evaluate both types of EI instruments (Brackett, Rivers, Shiffman, Lerner, & Salovey, 2006), such that the performance-based ability EI tests are based on the analysis of how individuals perform at their best in certain conditions (maximal performance) and correctness of responses is determined by external criterion, while self-report instruments are based on assessing how individuals perform on a daily basis (typical performance) and correctness of responses is evaluated by the subject him/herself (Fiori et al, 2014). Accordingly, these results might be explained by the existence of an overlap of shared variance method between self-report components of SWB and self-reports of EI (Schutte et al, 2007).…”

Is Emotional Intelligence Impaired in Unaffected Siblings of Patients with Schizophrenia?

“…This has also been suggested by Fiori and coworkers, who stated that: “the MSCEIT is best suited to discriminate persons at the low end of the trait” and “fails to detect differences among individuals that score average and above average” (Fiori et al, 2014). …”

Traditional Chinese version of the Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT-TC): Its validation and application to schizophrenic individuals

“…Concerns exist regarding the validity of the theoretical bases for the MSCEIT, operationalization of EI (Roberts et al, 2001;Roberts et al, 2006), and the applicability of EI measures to only the clinical subsamples with below average EI values but not to be used for non-clinical population (Fiori et al, 2014). Fiori et al affirmed that the MSCEIT is more sensitive an instrument for identifing patients of EI deficit rather than a probe for discriminating the EI ability of above-average normal individuals (Fiori et al, 2014).…”

“…Fiori et al affirmed that the MSCEIT is more sensitive an instrument for identifing patients of EI deficit rather than a probe for discriminating the EI ability of above-average normal individuals (Fiori et al, 2014). In fact, the MSCEIT has been recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Committee (MATRICS) for use as a key measure of social cognition in schizophrenia (Mayer et al, 2003;Green and Nuechterlein, 2004;Kern et al, 2004;Marder and Fenton, 2004;Harvey, 2006).…”

“…It is also contentious whether EI ability can be assessed and scored by one single correct answer for each item of MSCEIT. Fiori et al, reported that many of the answers for all 141 items had either skewed or dichotomous distributions (Fiori et al, 2014), which indicated that the proposition of "one single correct answer" is not valid for some domains of EI measurements. Accordingly, the EI as an ability and personality trait is not hierarchical as originally conceived.…”