Emotional intelligence: A meta-analytic investigation of predictive validity and nomological net

This study used meta-analytic techniques to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and performance outcomes. A total of 69 independent studies were located that reported correlations between El and performance or other variables such as general mental ability (GMA) and the Big Five factors of personality. Results indicated that, across criteria, El had an operational validity of .23 (k = 59, N = 9522). Various moderating influences such as the El measure used, dimensions of El, scoring method and criterion were evaluated. El correlated .22 with general mental ability (k = 19, N = 4158) and .23 (Agreeableness and Openness to Experience; k = 14, N = 3306) to .34 (Extraversion; k = 19, N = 3718) with the Big Five factors of personality. Results of various subgroup analyses are presented and implications and future directions are provided. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.