Date of Graduation

2007

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Education and Human Services

Committee Chair

Ernest R. Goeres

Committee Co-Chair

Elizabeth A. Jones

Committee Member

Perry D. Phillips

Committee Member

Jon A. Reed

Committee Member

Richard T. Walls,

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant relationship exists between the emotional intelligence of chief development officers and the organizational climate in the development organizations they lead. Additionally, demographic data was collected and tested as well to determine if such factors as: gender, age, years of experience, and length of tenure were significantly related to the organizational climate scores. Chief development officers (CDOs) from AASCU member comprehensive public colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region were invited to participate and their development staff members were included by virtue of the CDO responding. The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) was used to assess the emotional intelligence competency scores of the CDOs and the Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire for Higher Education (OCDQ-HE) was used to measure the perceptions of organizational climate. The entire population of CDOs in the defined geographic area was provided surveys (N=60) and subsequent surveys were sent to all development staff members (N=123) of CDO respondents. The response rate from CDOs was 25% (N=15) and the staff response rate was 44% (N=54). Linear regression and Pearson Product Moment correlations were used in data analysis. An alpha level of .05 served as the level of significance for the study. Results of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between the emotional intelligence scores of CDOs and the perceptions of organizational climate of their respective development organizations. There was little if any relation between the demographic data and the organizational climate results. The emotional intelligence scores of CDOs all fell in the average or high ranges, which is not characteristic of other professions. Organizational climate scores were all in the slightly positive range, another factor not consistent in other fields.

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