Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between adults’ emotional intelligence and knowledge of children’s social-emotional competence (SEC). A secondary purpose was to explore relationships between child care workers’ education, time spent working in child care, and their knowledge of children’s social-emotional competence. Participants included adult male and female child care workers (n = 95) as well as adults who were not employed in child care (n = 76). Participants were administered a self report emotional intelligence scale and an instrument that assessed their knowledge of children’s SEC. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and knowledge of children’s SEC for all participants. For child care workers, level of education was not related to knowledge of children’s SEC, and time spent working in child care was significantly negatively related to knowledge of children’s SEC. Emotional intelligence training is implicated as a way to help early childhood educators become more effective at fostering children’s emotional development.
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Appendix
Appendix
Opinions About Young Children Survey (OYC)
Below are some statements about young children. Read the statement and decide whether you strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree with the statement. Please circle “1” if you strongly disagree with the statement, circle “2” if you disagree with the statement, circle “3” if you agree with the statement, and “4” if you strongly agree with the statement.
Please give the response that best describes your opinion.
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1 = strongly disagree.
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2 = disagree.
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3 = agree.
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4 = strongly agree.
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Walton, G.E., Hibbard, D.R. Exploring Adults’ Emotional Intelligence and Knowledge of Young Children’s Social-Emotional Competence: A Pilot Study. Early Childhood Educ J 47, 199–206 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-017-0887-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-017-0887-1