Exploring Engineering Undergraduates’ Emotional Intelligence: A Gender Comparison Study In Malaysia

Abstract

Emotion intelligence (EI) identifies with how a person manages emotions. It has been linked to career based competency such as leadership, management, and social skills. Engineering, on the other hand, is generally pictured as a rational and logical profession that is not associated with emotionality. This has caused this profession to be labelled as ‘male’ profession and thus marginalising women in engineering. This study aims to explore if there are gender differences in EI of engineering undergraduates in Malaysia. EI was explored based on four different factors which are well-being, self-control, sociability, and emotionality. A quantitative study was done on 218 electronic engineering undergraduates in Malaysia using the Traits Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire – Short Form (TEIQue-SF). Based on the findings, there was no significant difference between genders for EI and its factors. Overall, male undergraduates were found to have higher but statistically insignificant EI scores As for EI factors, female respondents were found to have higher levels of self-control and emotionality whereas male respondents had higher levels in wellbeing and sociability. The correlation between EI and its’ factors were similar and showed strong to medium positive relationship for both genders. Therefore, concluding that the disparity between genders in regards to emotional intelligence are not apparent but both genders have their own emotional forte that may be directed for meaningful professional growth in engineering.