Abstract

• The main purpose of this study was to develop the new Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) for student teachers by applying one-parameter logistic model of item response theory (IRT). A total of 1200 student teachers from Yangon University of Education and Sagaing University of Education were selected by equal-sized stratified random sampling technique. The emotional intelligence scale was used as a research instrument. Descriptive research design and quantitative survey method were used in this study. According to confirmatory factor analysis, 59 items: 16 items in Empathy Social Awareness, 17 items in Self-Regulation, 18 items in Self-Awareness/Optimism and 8 items in Managing Emotions were left in the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Moreover, it was found that this scale would be most suitable for the examinees whose ability ranges from -3.5 to +1.5 and it would provide the maximum information at ability (θ) is -1.4. Finally, the new Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) for student teachers was developed with 33 items under four dimensions such as Empathy Social Awareness, Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness/ Optimism and Managing Emotions.