Date of Award

Summer 8-24-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Carlos V. Guzman

Second Advisor

Walter Buster

Third Advisor

Jonathan Greenberg

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) scores, as defined by Bradberry and Greaves (2009) and paramedic student success during the field internship phase of their education as determined by the California Paramedic Field Internship Major Evaluation (FE) Rating Criteria.

Methodology: This quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational study utilized data collected from the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal—Me Edition and the California Paramedic FE reports provided by paramedic preceptors in the field. Data were collected from 30 paramedic interns from 3 paramedic programs in Southern California and analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation (r).

Findings: This study’s focus was to determine if a relationship existed between EI and performance on the paramedic FE for paramedic interns. A weak direct (positive) correlation existed between EI and performance on the FE. For students required to repeat or extend their time in a paramedic internship, the data demonstrated a strong direct (positive) correlation between EI scores and their performance on the FE.

Conclusions: Students with higher levels of EI were more likely to find initial success during their field internship phase of study and complete the program on the first attempt. Although some students with lower measured levels of EI were successful in their initial attempts to pass field internship evaluations, the factor common among those students who had to extend or repeat the field internship portion of their study was a lower level of EI. Affective behaviors, which result from EI, are included on the FE for students and contribute to their overall scores.

Recommendations: Used in conjunction with the FISDAP’s Paramedic Entrance Exam, EI training would offer paramedic instructors and program directors important tools to proactively identify areas needing improvement so that appropriate interventions can be made in the best interest of the student. Recommendations for future research are listed in Chapter V.

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