Understanding the New EQ-i 2.0 Norms: Key Differences and Practical Implications

By Sharlene Olivier

As the landscape of emotional intelligence (EI) evolves, so too must our tools for measuring it. At JVR Africa Group, we understand the importance of staying current with best practices, which is why we are excited to announce the launch of new norms for the EQ-i 2.0 assessment. According to best practice, we aim to create new norms every 10 years.

Who is the new norm sample?

The sample for the norm update consisted of 16 581 working adults, compared to the 1 200 candidates in the old norm sample. Not only is the new norm sample much larger, but it is also more representative of the current South African population.

What differences did we find?

The South African EQ-i 2.0 raw scores were on average higher in the new norm sample compared to scores from the old norm sample. Translating these raw scores to norm scores means that for every composite score and scale score, on average, the new norm scores are lower than the old norm scores. In other words, if one compares the same individual’s raw score to both the old and new norm sample, the individual will have a lower norm score with the updated norms.

What does this mean practically?

Knowing that there is a difference between the old and new norm scores, the question is whether these differences are significant. Comparing the means and standard deviations between the old and new norms, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the composite or scale scores. Simply put, even though you may see score changes, your candidates are unlikely to shift ranges - meaning interpretation is not significantly impacted. Remember that with the EQ-i 2.0, the range is interpreted, rather than the specific scores.

Practical tips and take-away message?

One can expect to see lower norm scores with the update, although we do not expect to see major shifts between the low-, mid-, and high-range categories.

Context is always important; therefore, it is advisable to use the same norm scores when comparing candidates in one project. In other words, for projects started prior to the updated norms, continue to use the old norms.

Conclusion:

The release of the new EQ-i 2.0 norms marks a significant advancement in our understanding and measurement of emotional intelligence within the South African context. While raw scores may have shifted, the core value of the EQ-i 2.0 remains unchanged: to provide insightful, actionable data that drives personal and professional growth.