ABSTRACT

This study examined emotional intelligence as a predictor ofcounselors' effectiveness in public secondary schools in Imo State. The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses. The study adopteda correlationalresearch design. The entirepopulation was 2,138public secondary jschool Guidance counselors in Imo State. The total sample size was 112 Guidance counselors which include 46 female Guidance counselors and 39 male Guidance counselors in Imo State drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique. Two research instruments were used in collecting the data for the study namely Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (EIQ) and Guidance Counsellors Effectiveness Scale (CGES). The instruments were validated by three experts from Guidance and Counseling, Psychology and Measurement and Evaluation, College ofEducation, Michael Okpara University ofAgriculture, Umudike. The psychometric properties ofthe instruments were determined andfound to be valid and reliable with a reliability index of 0.84for E/Q and 0.87for GES. Data obtainedfor the study were analyzed, using the using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statisticsfor research questions, while all the hypotheses were tested using linear regression at a 0.05 level ofsignificance. It was foundfrom the results of the analysis that emotional intelligence to a high extentpredicted the effectiveness ofsecondary school counselors in secondary schools and that emotional intelligence of the guidance counselors significantly predict their counselors' effectiveness in secondary school. Based on thefindings it was recommended among others that Emotional intelligence as afactorshouldbe consideredin the hiring ofguidance counselors andtheirtraining as well as theirspecialization.