The Effectiveness of Emotional Words Training (RULER) on Improving the Emotional Intelligence in Primary School Students

In recent years there has been an increased interest in the role of emotional intelligence in both the academic success of students and their emotional adjustment in school. However, promotion of emotional intelligence in schools has proven a controversial pursuit, challenging as it does traditional “rationalist” views of education. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emotional words training (RULER) on improving the emotional intelligence in primary school students.

The research was a semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test and had a control group. A sample of 40 sixth grade students was selected from the population of elementary students in Tabriz city in the academic year of 2022-2023 and randomly assigned to two groups of 20. Research tools include; emotional intelligence questionnaire and ruler training package. The experimental group received 25 sessions of the emotional words training program. The data obtained from the research in three stages; It was collected before the intervention, after the intervention and two months after the intervention and was analyzed by mixed variance analysis and Bonferroni follow-up test.

The results showed emotional words training program had a positive and significant effect on emotional intelligence and its components.

Based on the findings, teaching emotional words can be used as an evidence-based method to strengthen emotional intelligence skills in schools.