Trait emotional intelligence and self-assessment of classroom learning in medical students

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) is the selfperceptionof emotional abilities. It is an important predictorof academic performance. Students’ self-assessment (SSA) ofknowledge gained from classroom teaching may help in theidentification of deficiencies in knowledge and provide scopefor further improvement. We aimed to evaluate the correlationbetween EI and SSA capability. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational studywith 56 first-year medical students recruited as a conveniencesample. We used the “Trait Emotional Intelligence QuestionnaireShort Form” to assess Trait EI. For assessment of SSA, we askedthe participants to write answers to a set of questions related tothe topic of the preceding 1-h lecture and to assess their marksthemselves. Three subject experts checked the answer sheetsand we took the mean as the expert assessment (EA) marks. Thecorrectness score of prediction was calculated by comparing SSAand EA marks. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculatedbetween EI scores and SSA correctness score. In all sessions, the students underpredicted their marks.SSA correctness score showed a positive correlation with wellbeing(r=0.33, P=0.01), self-control (r=0.57, P<0.01), emotionality(r=0.51, P<0.01), sociability (r=0.51, P<0.01), and total score(r=0.64, P<0.01) of trait EI. Underprediction of marks in formative assessment iscommon in 1st-year medical students. Students with higher levelsof EI may predict their knowledge gained from classroom betterthan the students with lower EI. This may be a potential reasonfor the better academic performance of students with higher EI.