Scientific method application in psychology research design and topic identification

A literature review is an essential part of the research process and scientific method. According to the USC Libraries (2017), a literature review serves several functions, including synthesizing prior research and also showing how a proposed or current new research fits into the existing body of evidence on the topic. Reviews of literature can be chapters or sections in a research report or dissertation; alternatively they can be stand-alone research that entails meta-analyses of large numbers of studies evaluated systematically for their contributions to science. One of the most important areas of social science research in the last few decades has been on the subject of emotional intelligence. Since the introduction of the term emotional intelligence in 1990, the topic has been integrated into many different areas of practical application, most notably in the field of leadership. In “Emotional Intelligence and Leadership,” McClesky (2012) offer a systematic review of literature on a range of topics include how emotional intelligence is measured, and also how leadership effectiveness is assessed. Therefore, this is a prime example of an effective and systematic review of literature on a social sciences subject.
The authors begin their review of literature by outlining the history of the term “emotional intelligence,” tracing the concept to researchers Peter Salovey and J.D. Mayer, who not only coined the term but also differentiated emotional intelligence from social intelligence. Moreover, Salovey and Mayer referred to emotional intelligence measures using the term EQ, to draw attention to its equal importance with the often over-regarded intelligence quotient (IQ), which does not take into account social skills, self-awareness, and self-mastery, issues which may be critical to the success of a leader in any field. Thus establishing the history and scope of emotional intelligence, McClesky (2012) reviews the literature to discuss how emotional intelligence is defined differently by different researchers, and how the term’s definition has also evolved.
Next, McClesky (2012) reviews various studies that have developed emotional intelligence ability models and standardized profiling. The Mayer Ability Model remains the most “commonly accepted,” even considered to be the “gold standard,” according to some researchers (McClesky, 2012, p. 76). Tests for measuring EQ are also evaluated, including the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Workgroup Emotional Intelligence Profile (WEIP). After discussing the methods by which EQ can be measured systematically, McClesky (2012) reviews studies that link the variable of EQ with leadership variables. Without narrowing down the subject too much, McClesky discusses the “three streams” approach and the measurement of EQ or EI (p. 81). Covering validity issues in research methodologies also strengthens the overall efficacy of the review of literature. In fact, McClesky (2012) also covers studies that criticize emotional intelligence to provide a rounded and balanced coverage of the topic in the review of literature.
Recommendations for further research on the link between emotional intelligence and leadership include systematizing the definition of EQ in a formalized way, only relying on the ability model rather than also including trait models, limiting the features and facets of emotional intelligence to ones that are measurable. The popularity of EI does not need to detract from its construct validity. The McClesky (2012) review of literature is bolstered by other systematic reviews and meta-analyses that are less robust but more specific in terms of the studies they chose to review. For example, Karimi, Leggat, Donohue, et al (2014) conduct a review of literature on the role of emotional intelligence and emotional labor on well-being and job-stress among community nurses, which precludes the authors from offering as broad a coverage of the topic.



References

Karimi, L., Leggat, S.G., Donohue, L, et al. (2014). Emotional rescue. Journal of Nursing 70(1): 176-186.
McClesky, J. (2012). Emotional intelligence and leadership. International Journal of Organizational Analysis 22(1): 76-93.
USC Libraries (n.d.). The literature review. Retrieved online: http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/literaturereview