DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIGENOUS SCALE OF SOCIO-EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND EVALUATION OF ITS PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES

Abstract

In Pakistan, it seems there is sparse of indigenous measure of socio-emotional intelligence. Therefore, this research fills a gap in literature by developing a valid and reliable indigenous scale. To achieve this, the author combined the Bar-On and Goleman’s models of emotional intelligence. This study developed and validated the first indigenous SEI tool for Pakistani undergraduates (ages 17–22) using a mixed-methods approach. 205 items were generated and were reduced to 144 based on expert advice. At the end of several analyses, 72 items were retained. These items were put in a questionnaire form and administered to a nationally representative sample of 1,600 students (50% male, 50% female) recruited via stratified random sampling across 16 cities in all four provinces. The bilingual (Urdu/English) 56-item SEI inventory, refined through cognitive interviews and pilot testing, demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a stable 10-factor structure (62.7% variance explained), with excellent reliability (α = 0.95; test-retest *r* = 0.89 over 4 weeks) and strong convergent validity (Bar-On EQ-i: *r* = 0.81; peer ratings: *r* = 0.63). Culturally adapted subscales (e.g., izzat-based self-esteem, communicative anxiety) showed superior factor loadings (β > 0.60) compared to Western-derived items (β = 0.32–0.45). This empirically validated tool bridges universal emotional intelligence frameworks with indigenous South Asian constructs (gham-khushi, aap/tum norms), offering socioculturally equitable applications for educational, clinical, and policy settings in collectivist contexts.