The Role of Emotional Intelligence as a Mediating Variable in Predicting Intrinsic Motivation in Solving Mathematical Problems among Fourth-Grade Students in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of emotional intelligence as a mediating variable in intrinsic motivation prediction of the ability to solve mathematical problems among fourth-grade students in the Sultanate of Oman.  The study sample consisted of 183 male and female students from six schools of the first cycle of basic education. The study tools are: Goleman's Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Intrinsic Motivation Scale of Lepper, and a mathematical problem-solving test prepared by the researchers. The content validity, and internal consistency reliability of the three tools were measured. The results found a weak and negative correlation between the ability to solve mathematical problems and each of: emotional intelligence, intrinsic motivation, and weak and positive correlation between emotional intelligence and intrinsic motivation. The results of this study also indicated that there is no mediating role for emotional intelligence in predicting intrinsic motivation in the ability to solve mathematical problems.

Received: 24 February 2021 / Accepted: 18 March 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021