Emotional and Cultural Intelligence as Predictors of Collaborative Learning: Evidence from Undergraduate Education in Malaysia

Incorporating team-based assessments is widely regarded as essential for preparing students to navigate the challenges of their future professional careers. While previous studies have examined the role of emotional intelligence or cultural intelligence in collaborative learning, limited research has simultaneously explored how these two competencies interact in shaping students’ perceptions of team-based assessments, particularly within the undergraduate context. This study aims to examine the levels of emotional and cultural intelligence among undergraduate students, as well as their general attitudes toward courses that incorporate team-based assessments. A non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was employed to achieve these objectives. A total of 223 undergraduate students participated in the study. The Schutte Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Intelligence instruments were administered for this study. The study further explores the relationship between emotional and cultural intelligence and students’ attitudes towards team-based assessments. The findings reveal significant correlations: emotional intelligence accounted for 32.8% and cultural intelligence accounted for 18.2% of the variance in students' attitudes toward team-based assessments. These results underscore the importance of emotional and cultural competencies in fostering greater student engagement in team-based learning environments.

Team-based assessment, Emotional intelligence, Cultural intelligence

1. Ang, S., Rockstuhl, T., & Tan, M. L. (2015). Cultural intelligence and competencies. In J. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social and behavioral sciences (2nd ed., pp. 433-439). New York, NY: Elsevier. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ang, S., & Van Dyne, L. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of Cultural Intelligence: Theory, Measurement, and Applications. M.E. Sharpe. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Ang, S., Van Dyne, L., & Koh, C. (2007). The development and validation of the cultural intelligence scale. Organization Studies, 28(3), 335-362. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ayman, R., & Korabik, K. (2014). The influence of religious diversity on team dynamics and performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 35(6), 809-824. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Baratipour, H., Khosravi, H., & Zare, M. (2022). The role of cultural intelligence in enhancing communication skills and task performance in multicultural environments. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 53(6), 543-560. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221221100345 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Cherniss, C. (2010). Emotional intelligence: Toward clarification of a concept. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 3(2), 110-126. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Clarke, N. (2010). Developing emotional intelligence abilities through team-based learning. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 21(2), 119-138. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Cooper, A., & Petrides, K. V. (2010). A psychometric analysis of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire-short form (TEIque-SF) using item response theory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(5), 449-457. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Crowne, K. A. (2009). The relationships among social intelligence, emotional intelligence, and cultural intelligence. Organization Management Journal, 6, 148-163. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Earley, C., & Mosakowski, E. (2004, October). Cultural intelligence. Harvard Business Review, 1-9. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Earley, P. C., & Ang, S. (2003). Cultural Intelligence: Individual Interactions across Cultures. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Emmerling, R. J., & Boyatzis, R. E. (2008). Emotional and social intelligence competencies: Cross-cultural implications. Journal of Management Development, 27(1), 5-12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Gokalp, M. (2021). The impact of cognitive and motivational aspects of cultural intelligence on social communication skills in collaborative environments. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 85, 123-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.02.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Harris, K. A. (2017). Investigating the relationship between emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence to attitudes towards team-based learning in undergraduate pre-health profession students. Hrynchak, P., & Batty, H. (2012). The educational theory basis of team-based learning. Medical Teacher, 34, 796-801. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Jamshed, S., & Majeed, N. (2019). Relationship between team culture and team performance through lens of knowledge sharing and team emotional intelligence. Journal of Knowledge Management, 23(1), 90-109. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Järvenoja, H., Järvelä, S., & Häkkinen, P. (2013). Emotion regulation in social learning situations: The impact on group dynamics and learning outcomes. Learning and Instruction, 25, 46-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2012.10.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Joseph, D. L., & Newman, D. A. (2010). Emotional intelligence: An integrative meta-analysis and cascading model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(1), 54-78. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Khani, N., Afshari, M., & Naderi, S. (2011). The relationship between cultural intelligence and group effectiveness in collaborative learning environments. International Journal of Educational Management, 25(4), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513541111139955 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Kuhlmann, A., Bock, J., & Riemann, M. (2021). Emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence among university students: A comparison across academic disciplines. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(3), 615-629. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Lee, C., Bristow, M., & Wong, J. C. (2018). Emotional intelligence and teamwork skills among undergraduate engineering and nursing students: A pilot study. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Levine, R. E., O'Boyle, M., Haidet, P., Lynn, D. J., Stone, M. M., Wolf, D. V., & Paniagua, F. A. (2004). Transforming a clinical clerkship with team learning. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 16(3), 270-275. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Liu, Y., Wang, H., & Liao, J. (2016). The impact of cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence on team-based learning satisfaction: A study among university students. Educational Psychology, 36(6), 1051-1070. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. MacNab, B. R., & Worthley, R. (2012). Individual characteristics as predictors of cultural intelligence development: The relevance of self-efficacy. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(1), 62-71. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Martins, H., & Proença, T. (2012). Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire–Psychometric properties and validation in a population of Portuguese hospital workers. FEP Journal–Economics & Management: Working Paper, 471(1), 1-23. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Michaelsen, L. K., Knight, A. B., & Fink, L. D. (2004). Team-Based Learning: A Transformative Use of Small Groups. Stylus Publishing, LLC. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Michaelsen, L. K., & Sweet, M. (2008). The essential elements of team-based learning. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 116, 7-17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Min, H., Lee, P. C., & Park, J. (2020). Open to diversity! Investigating the impact of cultural intelligence on students’ preference for group work. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 32(1), 14-24. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Musa, A., Dauda, M., & Saba, Y. (2022). Relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress among nursing students in College of Nursing Gombe State, Nigeria. Kashere Journal of Education, 3(1), 62–68. https://doi.org/10.4314/kje.v3i1.9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. O'Boyle, E. H., Humphrey, R. H., Pollack, J. F., & Hawver, T. (2011). The relation between emotional intelligence and job performance: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(5), 469-474. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Petrides, K. V. (2010). Trait emotional intelligence theory. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 3, 136-139. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Petrides, K. V., Furnham, A., & Frederickson, N. (2004). Emotional intelligence. The Psychologist, 17(10), 574-577. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Rose, R. C., Ramalu, S. S., Uli, J., & Kumar, N. (2010). Expatriate performance in international assignments: The role of cultural intelligence as dynamic intercultural competency. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(8), 76. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., & Lucharini, P. (2001). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167-177. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Sibley, J., & Parmelee, D. X. (2008). Knowledge is no longer enough: Enhancing professional education with team-based learning. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 116. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Tabachnick, B., & Fiddell, L. (2007). Experimental design using ANOVA. Belmont, CA: Thompson Higher Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Tadmor, C. T., Tetlock, P. E., & Peng, K. (2012). Developing cultural intelligence: The role of emotional intelligence. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36(3), 258-270. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Tatar, A., Tok, S., Bender, M., & Saltukoğlu, G. (2017). Translation of original form of Schutte emotional intelligence test into Turkish and examination of its psychometric properties. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 1. https://doi.org/10.5455/apd.221802 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Törmänen, T., Kumpulainen, K., & Kallio, J. (2021). Affective states in collaborative learning: Understanding and managing emotions in group settings. Learning and Instruction, 75, 101473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2021.101473 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Wang, Y., Wang, H., & Liu, X. (2020). The moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between cultural intelligence and adaptation in diverse environments. Journal of International Business Studies, 51(5), 745-764. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2001). The psychology of culture shock. Psychology Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study