| EQ tests have been developed after the example | | | | use several skills. You can't get the calculator out |
| of the IQ tests, being as reliable and valid as the | | | | of your pocket and get the result or to consult a |
| latter ones. The manner in which the items of an | | | | dictionary to find out. On an ability-based EQ test, |
| EQ test are constructed closely resembles the | | | | on the other hand, there is no clear separation |
| way in which the IQ test items are contrived. | | | | among the degrees of "correctness" of the |
| Let us take an example. Imagine you are taking | | | | answers. They might appear to be subjective but |
| an ability-based EQ test. In this case you might be | | | | they surely cannot be labeled as correct and |
| presented with an item like this: | | | | incorrect as in mathematics; the responses are |
| Two boys, Adam and Jimmy, are playing | | | | somehow placed in a hierarchy of acceptability. |
| basketball in the schoolyard. They suddenly start | | | | Psychologists have come up with a system of |
| fighting over who should get the next shot at the | | | | correctness typical for EQ tests. They decide |
| basket. You happen to be walking by and see | | | | how correct an answer is using one of the |
| them fighting. You decide to:a) Ignore them and | | | | following ways: |
| keep walking;b) Interrupt their fighting and get | | | | - Norm group - administer the test to over 1,000 |
| them to each explain to you the rules;c) Yell at | | | | people that represent the population at large and |
| them to stop fighting;d) Take the ball from them | | | | look at how the majority would answer to the |
| and tell them that if they don't behave, neither of | | | | item. The most common response would most |
| them can have it;e) tell them that you'll report | | | | likely be the correct answer because it renders a |
| them if they don't stop fighting. | | | | social consensus of the right thing to do in the |
| The format of the question above, although from | | | | situation. |
| an EQ test, is similar to that of an IQ test. The | | | | - Expert review - the items are presented to a |
| difference between the two resides in the fact | | | | known group of experts in the theories about |
| that a question from the latter must have a | | | | emotions, that have been involved and conducted |
| correct answer. As the test advances, the items | | | | research on emotions and have contributed in |
| are getting harder and harder and you might have | | | | some way to the scientific literature on the |
| the sensation that there is no single right answer, | | | | matter. The answer picked up by the majority of |
| but this is because the questions demand you to | | | | the experts will become the correct one. |