The effect of emotional intelligence levels of accountants' on their organizational commitment

In this study, relationships between the level of emotional intelligence and organizational commitment of accountants was examined, whether there were differences based on professional title, years of experience and education level in the emotional intelligence and organizational commitment dimensions. In order to achieve this goal, Bar-On (1997) emotional intelligence (EQ-i) and Meyer and Allen (1984, 1997) organizational commitment scale was applied to 470 accountants in Turkey. The data from the survey was analyzed by means of the statistical package software, SPSS 15. Exploratory factor analysis was used for measuring the validity and reliability of the scales. The relationships between accountants' emotional intelligence level and the dimensions of organizational commitment are tested via correlation and regression anlysis. In the dimensions of emotional intelligence levels and organizational commitment One-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA) was used in order to reveal whether there were differences based on professional title, years of experience and education level of accountants. In the analysis of research data, it was concluded that there is a statistically significant and positive effect of emotional intelligence on the organizational commitment, emotional commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment of accountants to the organization. At the same time the search results reveal the existence of (1) statistically significant and positive effect of the dimensions of adaptation to the conditions, on the affective commitment of accountants to the organization (2) statistically significant and positive effect of the general mood on the continuance commitment to the organization (3) statistically significant and positive effect of the general mood on normative commitment to the organization. According to one-way ANOVA analysis results, With regard to emotional intelligence, statistically significant differences exist between accountants having different years of experience. However a differentiation based on the title, and level of education does not exist. With regard to the organizational commitment no difference could be found based on titles, years of experience and education level of accountants. Key words: Emotional intelligence, organizational commitment