i.e. demografia

Available online at www.behaviorsciences.com

Reef Resources Assessment and

Management Technical Paper ISSN: 1607-7393

RRAMT 2014- Vol. 40, 2014, 1

Studying spiritual intelligence status in the staff and regarding

demographic characteristics

Babak Hosseinzadeha*, Hossein Ruinb

a) Assistant Professor in department, babol-branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.

b) Faculty member Sama technical and vocational training college, Islamic Azad University, babol branch, Babol, Iran

Abstract

The goal of the present research is to study the spiritual intelligence status of the staff and Faculty members of Islamic Azad

university, Babol branch regarding demographic characteristcs. The statistical population of this research includes all the staff and

faculty members of Islamic Azad University, Babol branch. Among them, 108 employees (staff) and 78 faculty members were

selected by randomized category based sampling method. In this research, the descriptive survey method was used. Data collection

was performed using of king's spiritual intelligence questionnaire (SISRI-24). The results show: 1- There is no meaningful

correlation between the spiritual intelligence and the age, service history, and the marriage status. 2- There is a meaningful

difference between the staff and faculty members in terms of the spiritual intelligence at the level of 0.01 such that in all dimensions,

i.e., a) creation (production) of personal meaning, b) the exalted awareness, c) expansion of consciousness and d) the existence

thinking, the scores of faculty members were higher than those of the staff. 3- There is a meaningful difference in the spiritual

intelligence in terms of scientific rank (degree). 4- There is a meaningful difference in the spiritual intelligence in terms of the

educational fields of Faculty members. 5- There is mo meaningful difference in the spiritual intelligence in terms of educational

levels of the staff.

2014 Published by RRAMT France Ltd.

Keywords: spiritual intelligence.

Introduction

The issue of spirituality is the permanent occupation of human. The importance of spirituality and the spiritual

growth in human-being during a few recent decades has increasingly been addressed by the psychologists and

psychological health specialists (professionals). The advancement of psychology science on one hand and dynamic

and complex (sophisticated) nature of the societies on the other hand, caused the spiritual needs of human- beings

shall resist (challenge) against his material desires and requirements and find a more importance.

It seems that people of the world increasingly incline in the spirituality and spiritual issues. Also, the psychologists

and psychiatrists incrementally find out that using the simple and traditional methods is not enough to treat

psychological disorders (West, 2004).

The view which expresses the intelligence involves several different abilities, was supported by the recent procedure

in neurology and cognitive psychology.

Reef Resources Assessment and Management Technical Paper, Vol. 40 (2), 2014, 1, pp. 203-214

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Imagination of spiritual intelligence enables us to see the things as they are, free from unconscious distortions,

against eagerly (desirous) thoughts or understanding of certainty. The spiritual intelligence practice necessitates to

face the existentialism facts such as freedom (liberty). Pain, death and involvement in permanent searching for the

meaning.

Spiritual growth and maturity is a manifestation of spiritual intelligence. It includes some degree of ethical and

exciting growth as well as ethical behavior. The propagation and training of spiritual intelligence entails commitment

towards some forms of that spiritual approach. It seems that any discussion about the spiritual intelligence will be

incomplete without identifying (recognition of) extensive range of spiritual experiences.

Walsh (1999) have illustrated seven poplular (conventional) approaches in the religions of world which have

encouraged the openness of heart and mind and help people to foster some of these qualities.

The growth of spiritual intelligence includes personal growth and overtakes it and extends to findings beyond the

development of healthy psychology. This begins with propagating the accuracy and self-consciousness and by

practicing; it extends to concern about all human-beings. Some of personal spiritual characteristics such as traditional

virtues of truthfulness and honesty, humility and benevolence may be related to the intelligence. One consolidated

view in respect of spiritual intelligence involves in domain of multiple intelligence and looks at the spiritual

intelligence in some respect of the whole life of the whole life of the person. The consolidated spiritual intelligence

means living based on the main and basic beliefs and opinions of the individual. This consolidation reinforces the

feeling directed towards the goal, while its multiplicity results in alienation and disappointment.

Spiritual intelligence structure is one of the concepts which has originated from the attention and interest of

psychologists in the domain of religion and spirituality. The concept of spiritual intelligence in academic literature of

psychology was first proposed by stevens 1996 and then by Robert Emmons 1999. In view of Emmons (2000) the

spiritual intelligence includes adaptive application of spiritual data with the goal to facilitate solving everyday

problems and achieve the goal. Generally, the emergence of spiritual intelligence structure can be considered as the

application of spiritual capacities and resources in practical situations and aspects. The individuals implement spiritual

intelligence when they are going to use the spiritual capacities and resources for important decisions and thinking of

existence issues or attempt to solve everyday problems (Emmons,2000; Zohar& Marshall,2000). Using the spiritual

intelligence in some meaning (concepts) which the individuals attribute them to life relationships and experiences,

and in a method by which the individuals make their lives understandable, plays a role. Therefore, spiritual intelligence

helps the creation of a feeling (sense) of awareness and meaning in relation to the position of individual in the world

and his relations with others (Sisk & Torrance, 2001).

Spiritual intelligence represents a unique collection (set) of experiences (such as exaltation) and human abilities

(such as the ability to communicate the meaningful and important ties between the separated events) which all the

individuals enjoy it, even though differently (Zohar& Marshall,2000, Noble, 2000). The awared (conscious)

application of spiritual intelligence in the individual's life can be resulted in increasing the relationship with the self,

others and bigger world (Sisk,2008).

What was caused until the spirituality structure shall be conceptualized as the intelligence, are those the observations

and findings which represent this fact that the application of a special patterns of thoughts, excitements and behaviors

(which are usually addressed in sub-conception of religion and spirituality) can cause to increase the adaptation

(compatibility) and optimal living of human- being in everyday life (Anandarajah & Hight,2001,Van Ness and

Kasl,2003,Daaleman & Studensk, 2004).

While the spirituality upgrades by searching (seeking) and experiencing the sacred elements, meanings and

consciousness, and it is related to exaltation; the spiritual intelligence entails some abilities to use such spiritual issues

for effective conformation and action and production (creation) of valuable outcomes (Emmons,1999). King(2008)

believes that there are four dimensions of spiritual intelligence including personal meaning production, transcendental

awareness, conscious expansion, and critical existential thinking and defines each of these dimensions as follows:


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personal meaning production is the ability to use physical and mental experiences to create personal goal and meaning

and gives the human the ability to exploit the spiritual experiences. Transcendental awareness is the ability to detect

the transcendental (exalted) aspects of the self, others and the world using the consciousness. The conscious expansion

is the ability to introduce into higher spiritual situations such as deep thinking, benediction (blessing) and meditation

for human. It provides the possibility for spiritual transcendention (exaltation). Existential thinking includes the

capacity of critical thinking towards the existence problems and metaphysics such as the reality of the world and the

like.

In George's opinion (2006) the most important applications of spiritual intelligence at work place include: 1)

generating tranquility such that it affects (influences) the effectiveness of individual; 2) creation of understanding

between the individuals; 3) managing the changes and removing the obstacles.

Self- awareness is key merit (capability) for the spiritual intelligence. Of course, most of us find ourselves as physical

and material creatures and believe that life is a material and physical experience and our tranquility depends on

physical conditions of life such as money, property and

These depend on our job by themselves. Therefore, lack of these creates an insecurity feeling for us.

This research seeks to examine the spiritual intelligence as a factor which causes to increase the effective relationship

with self, others and surrounding world among the faculty members and the staff of Islamic Azad university, Babol

branch based on the demographic characteristics, until it shall be able to provide the requirements for individuals'

more recognition of themselves and be a bed for the growth and upgrade in an environment full of counterplay; i.e.,

the university.

Definitions for spirituality are spirituality, as one of the dimensions of humanistics (humanity), includes the

awareness and self- recognition. It is the need to exceed from ourselves in everyday life and being consolidated into

someone except of ourselves. This awareness might be resulted in some experiences beyond ourselves. on the other

hand, spirituality is a public issue. Like the excitement, it has different degrees and manifestations, such that it may

be conscious or unconscious, developed or undeveloped, healthy or ill, simple or complex and useful or dangerous

(Vaughan, 2002).

Spirituality means energy, meaning (concept), goal and awareness in life. Spirituality means continuous searching

to find the meaning and goal of life.

It is deep and profound understanding of life value, the space of world, available natural forces (powers), and system

of personal beliefs. But in a more comprehensive and precise definition, the spirituality can be introduced in such

way: an attempt to foster the sensitivity against the self, others, God, or exploration towards what is needed for

becoming as a human, and a search to achieve complete humanity (Hinnells,1995).

Emmons attempted to propose the spirituality based on Gardner's definition about the intelligence within the

framework of intelligence. He believed that spirituality can be regarded as a form of intelligence because it is able to

predict the performance and compatibility of individual (for example, more health) as well as, it can propose some

capabilities which enable the individuals to address problem- solving and achieve their goals. Where as Gardner

criticizes Emmons and believes that some aspects of spirituality which are related to phenomenology experiences

(such as the experience) of holiness or the exalted states) should be separated from intellectual aspects, problem-

solving and data processing (Amram,2005). Elkinz et. al expressed afew important dimensions of spirituality

including:

a) understanding the meaning and concept of life,

b) having holiness feeling (sense) in life,

c) improving the balance in material values,

d) having a perspective for the world's improvement (Sagharvani, 2009).

Friedman and MacFonald (2002) believe that the spirituality means need in exceeding from self in the life and

consolidation into some one except of self (ownself). This awareness results in the experience of exceeding from self.


206

Also, these researchers believe that the spirituality means: a) concentration (focus) on the ultimate and final meaning

of life, b) awareness and growth of multiple levels of consciousness, c) the experience of holiness and worth of life,

and d) upgrading self to a more expansive (extensive) whole.

Cognitive or non-cognitive intelligence

To determine kinds of intelligence, many theoretical frameworks have ever been presented. But among these, two

frameworks have been accepted more.

A) Gardner's multiple intelligence theory.

B) Kinds of intelligence based on the functions of brain's nervous systems (intelligence quotient, emotional / exciting

intelligence and spiritual intelligence).

Zohar and Morshall (2000) who presented the frame work of intelligence based on the function of brain's nervous

systems, obtained interesting results from their studies on the brain. They examined the function of brain

neurologically. They attributed all possible kinds of intelligence to three kinds of main nervous systems in brain. They

believe that all other intelligences are subsets of these kinds of intelligence:

1- Intelligence Quotient, 2- Emotional (Exciting) Intelligence, 3- spiritual Intelligence

a) linear thinking intelligence quotient of brain: The first kind is the same intelligence quotient which is appropriate

(suitable) for sloving mathematical and logical problems.

b) Interactive thinking- exciting intelligence of brain: second kind is the exciting (emotional) intelligence which

helps the individuals to manage their and others' feelings.

c) Unifying thinking- spiritual intelligence of brain: zohar and marshall define the spiritual intelligence in this way:

"An intelligence by which we solve the problems related to the meanings and values. An intelligence which puts our

life and activities in a more extensive, wealth, meaningful field. An intelligence which helps us to understand which

path (direction) or what practices (measures) are more meaningful than the others (Zohar& Marshall,2000).

Spiritual intelligence is necessary for effective function of intelligence quotient and emotional intelligence.

Zohar believes that it is our ultimate intelligence: Spiritual intelligence makes the individuals creative, since it helps

the individuals to replace the rules and play the boundaries it gives us the ability of discrimination and selection. It

fills up us by kindness and perception and helps us to see the limitations. In fact, it is the revolutionary nature of

spiritual intelligence which distinguishes it from the emotional (exciting) intelligence.

Demonstration of different levels of consciousness provides the discrimination of spiritual intelligence from other

kinds of intelligence with a useful map (plan). Wilber expresses although most of us have had transcendental

experiences and achieved the extensive states of transpersonal consciousness, we can complete (accomplish) the

continuous achievement of the evidence or pure and clear awareness which is aware of all levels by practice. This

awareness can remain by sleeping, dreaming and awakeness, since it is almost always present in all three states.on the

other hand, the intelligence is a divine blessing which penetrates through the veil (curtain) of dreaming and

imagination. For this same reason, it is able to detect the reality (Sohrabi, 2008,).

Therefore, it is considered that both general intelligence (Intelligence Quotient= IQ) and exciting intelligence

(Exciting Quotient=EQ) are within the domain of biological date (information) and knowledge, but spiritual

intelligence (SQ = spiritual Quotient) includes far and abstract thoughts. Spiritual intelligence is applied through

spiritual rules and knowledge which are appeared (found) in our world.

In fact, when SQ, EQ and IQ are applied together and in coordination (harmonically), we are increasingly and

abundantly able to disclose our internal (intrinsic) power. In opinion of zohar and Marshall, IQ and EQ are not able

to explain the complexity of human intelligence by themselves and/ or altogether, but the combination (integration)

of these two domains into the spiritual intelligence allows the human to be creative, to change habit-based and

inappropriate rules and frames and/or if necessary, to create new frames. Interacting with two other intelligences,

spiritual intelligence can revolutionize the results of human's intellectuality and allocate more expansion and wealth

to these two intelligences (Sohrabi, 2008).


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Table 1- comparison of kinds of intelligence and their performance (Zohar& Marshall, 2000).

Intelligence Function

Intelligence Quotient What we think

Exciting intelligence (quotient) What we feel

Spiritual intelligence (quotient) What we are

Spiritual intelligence:

Spiritual intelligence integrates the structures of spirituality and intelligence into a new structure. The concept of

spiritual intelligence in academic literature of psychology was first proposed by stevens in 1996 and then, it was

developed by Emmons in 1999. Robert Emmons (2000) defines Spiritual intelligence as the compatible use of spiritual

data (information) to facilitate solving everyday problems and improving the goal. on the other hand, he considers and

proposes the emergence of spiritual intelligence structure as the application of spiritual capacities and resources in

practical situations and fields.

Spiritual intelligence is the collections (sets) of compatible mental capabilities which are placed based on immaterial

and transcendental aspects of reality; especially those aspects which are related to the existential nature of individual,

personal conceptualization, exaltation and extensive states of consciousness. These processes play a compatible role

in facilitation of personal conceptualization, problem- solving and abstract justification (thinking) (King, 2008). Sisk

(2008) introduces the spiritual intelligence as the ability to apply multi-sensory procedure in problem- solving and

learning along with listening to intrinsic evocation. On the other hand, spiritual intelligence is a deep self-awareness

which awares (informs) the person more about his intrinsic aspects and helps him such that in this case, human is not

just a body but he is a collection (set) of thinking (thought), soul and body.

King's spiritual intelligence model

1) Perception of personal meaning (concept): The ability to perceive personal meaning (concept) and understanding

physical and mental experiences, including the capability of creation and dominance on the goal (purpose) of life.

2) Transcendental Awareness: The capability to detect (recognize) transcendental dimensions of self, others and

physical world (immateriality) in natural and conscious states along with the capability to detect the relationships of

the above- mentioned dimensions with self.

3) Critical existential thinking: the capability of critical thinking and deliberation in the existential nature, reality,

existence (world), space, time and other existential / metaphysical cases. Also, the capability of thinking in non-

existential cases related to the existence of someone (from existential viewpoint).

4) Expanded consciousness states: The ability to enter and exit of consciousness (such as pure consciousness, cosmic

consciousness, unity, oneness) and other states of thinking (thought) of self (such as deep thinking, deliberation/

meditation, praying and blessing) (King, 2008).

Next researches (investigations) of this researcher showed that counterplays of these abilities are determined by two

common characteristics: 1) They are in spiritual creation by themselves; 2) They are dominant on superior and

immaterial aspects of reality. These are the principles of exclusive abilities. This will prove (verify) that these

components are really mental abilities (capabilities) and capacities not the selected ways of behavior (King &

DeCicco,2009).

In working life (workplace), there are many domains in which the spiritual intelligence can be implemented. In

George's view (George, 2006), three important domains include: a) personal security and its effect on personal

effectiveness: The spiritual intelligence helps the stability and self-confidence of individual increase and they

compromise working problems more easily.

b) creation of relationships and perception (understanding) between the individuals: It helps the improvement of

relationships (communication) and understanding the others at workplace. c) Managing the change and removing the

obstacles: it helps the fears resulted from the change shall be overcome.


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Nevertheless, it seems that spiritual intelligence is generally related to psychological health(Van Ness and

Kasl.,2003).Spiritual seeking might be followed by some risks. It proposed some problems in relation to the potential

inappropriate applications of spiritual intelligence. For example, when spiritual intelligence is applied instead of an

intelligence which is more appropriate in a special field, he justifies that the excessive relying (reliance) on the

spirituality for problem- solving might deviate the person from more real and applied methods for problem- solving.

For example, a person who prays for divine mediation to solve his conflicts with others in stead of implementing

social skills and his interpersonal intelligence, he has probably excessive and incorrect reliance on spiritual sources

(resources). Also, the excessive development of spiritual intelligence might keep the individual in ignorance from

paying attention to other domains such as interpersonal skills (Emmons, 2000). Excessive religiousness or spirituality

of individuals may influence their thought and perception such that it prevents the intellectual thinking or critical

justification skills (competencies). In a religious bed, the creation of spirituality should be addressed more than ethical

judgements. When a religion's attention focuses on persisting on truth claim or excessive emphasis on socialization

instead of fostering spiritual growth, the spiritual intelligence might be ignored.

Research Methodology (method)

Regarding the goal, this research is a kind of applied the goal, this research is a kind of applied researches and

according to the quality of obtaining data, it is survey one, of descriptive kind. Descriptive research includes a

collection (set) of methods which their goal is to describe the studied phenomena or conditions and recognize (detect)

the conditions more or assist the process of decision- making (Sarmad et. al, 1998). Among the descriptive researches,

this research is of descriptive- survey kind research which is applied to examine (study) the distribution of

characteristics of a statistical population and answer some research questions such as the following questions: a) How

is the nature of the available (existing) conditions?

b) What relationship is there between the events?

c) How is the current situation?

Tools for data collection

For data collection in respect of spiritual intelligence, king's questionnaire (2008) was used. This questionnaire

includes 24 articles (parts). The questions 7, 11,15,19,23 are related to personal meaning production part of spiritual

intelligence. The Questions 4, 8,12,16,24 are related to transcendental awareness part of spiritual intelligence. The

questions 6, 10,14,18,20,22,2 are related to conscious expansion part of spiritual intelligence. And the questions

3,5,9,13,17,21,1 are related to the existential thinking part of spiritual intelligence.

This questionnaire was designed as self- evaluation (self-assessment) and within the framework of 5- point scale

(from zero; the least agreement to 4= the highest agreement). Finally, the scores of statements (expressions) are

summed up. The individuals who achieve (acquire) a range between 0 and 24, have low spiritual intelligence. The

individuals who are between 24-48, they have less than average spiritual intelligence. The individuals who are between

48-72, have average spiritual intelligence. The individuals who are between 72-96, have a higher than average spiritual

intelligence. For validity assessment, king compared this scale with several valid questionnaires such as transpersonal

self-report (self-interpretation) scale, gnosticism scale and internal and external piety (intrinsic and extrinsic

religiousness) scale, and obtained their correlation coefficients as 0.67, 0.63 and 0.58, respectively.

The reliability of this scale was obtained as 0.95 based on alpha coefficient. Using factorial explorasive analysis in

a sample including 619 students of canada's Toronto University, kronbach's alpha was 0.95 and the reliability was

obtained 0.84 by dissection. Also, kronbach's alpha for sub-scales are as follows: first factor, 0.78; second factor, 0.88;

third factor, 0.94; and fourth factor, 0.88 (King, 2008). In another study, using the confirmatory factorial analysis

method, kronbach's alpha and the standardized alpha were obtained 0.92 and 0.92, respectively (Zohar, &

Marshall,2000).


209

In this study, using intrinsic (internal) homoscedasticity method between the questions (kronbach's alpha) in a 35-

people sample who were selected randomly, validity coefficients for four components including existential thinking,

personal meaning production, transcendental awareness, conscious expansion, were obtained 0.71, 0.71, 0.65 and 0.96

respectively. It was calculated as 0.88 for the whole questionnaire.

Statistical population

Statistical population of this research includes all the employed staff and faculty members of Islamic Azad

University, Babol branch in 2013.

Total number of the staff and faculty members is 359 persons according to the statistics who are separated into 208

employees (officials) and 151 faculty members. The sample volume of this research is determined by kochran's

formula as equal to 186 persons as follows:

)5.05.096.1()05.0359(

5.05.096.1359.22

2

22

2

pqtNd

pqNtn

Sampling method and statistical methods

Sampling method of this research is proportional class randomized method. In this way, the ratio of the staff and

faculty members of Islamic Azad University, Babol branch to the whole, the value of the selected sample were

determined. On the other hand, the questionnaires were randomly distributed among 108 employees (staff) and 78

faculty members.

After collection of the questionnaires, data was analyzed using spss 17 software. Initially, distribution normality of

quantitative variables was examined by colmogrov- smearnov test. To analyze the research data, tables, frequencies,

percentages, the values of central tendency such as mean, distribution values such as standard deviation and variance,

t- test of independent groups, analysis of unidirectional (unilateral) variance, and pearson's correlation coefficient

were used.

Findings:

Looking at table 2, it is observed that the value of correlation coefficient between spiritual intelligence and the age

is 0.051 which is not meaningful at the level of 0.05 Also,. The results show that there is a correlation between

occupational record (history) and spiritual intelligence (p=0.035) which is not meaningful at the level of 0.05.

Table 2- the results of pearson's correlation test for spiritual intelligence and the age and the activity record

(service record)

Variables Number Correlation

coefficient

Significance level

Spiritual intelligence

+Age

186 0.051 0.495

Spiritual intelligence

+ occupational record

186 0.03 0.639

As table 3 shows, mean spiritual intelligence of female group (59.13) is less than mean spiritual intelligence of mole

group (62.48).

But regarding the obtained t (1.64), this difference is not meaningful (significant) at the level of 0.01 Also, the results

about the relationship between spiritual intelligence and marital status show; regarding the obtained t (1.45), it is not

meaningful (significant) at the level of 0.05 and there is no difference between the married persons and single ones in

terms of spiritual intelligence.

Table 3- t- test of independent groups to determine the difference in spiritual intelligence regarding to the sex

(gender) and marital status:


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Looking at table 4 and comparing the mean and standard deviation of faculty member's ranks, it is determined that

the professors with the mean of 72.55 enjoy more spiritual intelligence compared to other faculty members with

scientific degrees of assistant professor (65.03) and trainer. (61.59).

To compare the mean of these three groups, the unilateral variance analysis test was used which has been illustrated

in table 5. Regarding to table's data; with confidence level of 95 percent, it can be concluded that there is a meaningful

difference between three compared groups in terms of spiritual intelligence level. Scheffe post hoc test results in table

6 show that the difference in mean score of spiritual intelligence for faculty members with scientific degree of associate

professor is meaningful with scientific degree of trainer.

Table 4- Descriptive statistics of spiritual intelligence of Faculty members based on the scientific degree(rank):

Variable Number Mean Standard

deviation

Minimum

score

Maximum

score

Trainer 27 61.59 14.31 27 79

Assistant

professor

33 65.03 15.44 27 85

Assistant

professor

18 72.55 10.04 51 88

Total 78 65.57 14.41 27 88

Table 5- Analysis of unilateral variance test for difference in spiritual intelligence regarding the scientific degree

of Faculty members

Change

(variable)

resources

Sum of

scores squares

Mean of scores

squares sum

Freedom

degree

F Significance

level

Inter- group 1315.10 657.55 2 3.360 0.040

Inter- group 14675.93 195.67 75

Total 15991.03 - 77

Table 6- Scheffe post hoc test for spiritual intelligence with scientific degree

Variable Trainer Assistant professor Assistant professor

Trainer *

Assistant professor

Assistant professor *

Looking at table 7 and comparing the mean and standard deviation of educational groups of Faculty members, it is

determined that the professors in basic science group with a mean of 71.13 enjoy more spiritual intelligence compared

to other faculty members in agriculture and veterinary science group (mean=57.89), human science (mean= 70.09 ),

Variables Gender Number Mean Standard

Deviation

Freedom

Degree

t Significance

level

Spiritual

Intelligence

Male 127 62.48 12.90 184 1.64 0.102

Female 59 59.13 13.07

Spiritual

Intelligence

Married 126 62.38 13.42 184 1.45 0.147

Single 60 59.41 11.98


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technical and engineering group (mean=50.60). To compare the mean of these three groups, unilateral variance

analysis test was used which has been illustrated in table 8. Regarding to the table's data with a confidence level of 95

percent, it can be concluded that there is a meaningful difference between five compared groups in terms of spiritual

intelligence level. Scheffe post hoc test results in table 9 in this comparison show that difference in mean spiritual

intelligence (quotient) scores of Faculty members in educational groups including human science and agriculture and

veterinary science group and medical science group as well as the difference of medical science group and basic

science and technical- engineering group are meaningful.

Table 7- Descriptive statistics of spiritual intelligence of Faculty members based on scientific degree:

Variable Number Mean Standard

deviation

Minimum

score

Maximum

score

Agriculture &

veterinary science

15 57.86 20.37 27 79

Basic science 15 71.13 203.37 62 81

Human science 32 70.09 6.51 51 88

Medical science 10 50.60 9.61 32 82

Technical &

Engineering

5 74.60 14.63 68 68

Table 8- Analysis of unilateral variance test for difference in spiritual intelligence regarding the educational

groups of Faculty members:

variable

(Change)

resources

Sum of

scores squares

Mean of scores

squares sum

Freedom

degree

F Significance

level

Inter- group 4657.09 1164.27 2 7.43 0.000

Inter- group 11275.78 156.60 75

Total 15991.03 77

Table9- scheffe post hoc test for spiritual intelligence in different educational groups of Faculty members:

Variable Agriculture &

veterinary

science

Basic

science

Human

science

Medical

science

Technical and

Engineering

Agriculture &

veterinary science

*

Basic science *

Human science * *

Medical science * * *

Technical and

Engineering

*

Looking at table 10 with confidence level of 95 percent, it can be concluded that there is no meaningful difference

between four educational groups of the compared staff (employees) in terms of spiritual intelligence level. On the

other hand, the spiritual intelligence levels among diploma, assistant degree, B. A. and M.A. degrees, are almost

close to each other.


212

Table 10-Analysis of variance test for difference in Spiritual intelligence regarding to the educational degrees

(levels) of the staff:

As it is shown in table 11, regarding the obtained t (3.83), the difference between the staff and Faculty members is

meaningful (significant) in terms of spiritual intelligence at the level of 0.01 percent. Also, observing the mean of

two groups, it is determined that mean of Faculty members group (65.57) is more than mean of the staff (58.42). on

the other hand, Spiritual intelligence of faculty members is more than that of the staff.

Table 11-t-test of independent groups to determine the spiritual intelligence difference between faculty members

and the staff:

Discussion and conclusion

The results show that there is no meaningful correlation between spiritual intelligence and the age and the

occupational (Job) record. In their research, Hariri and Zarrin-Abadi (2011) found that the age, job history (record)

have no effect on the spiritual intelligence level. In his study, Pato (1999) Concluded that males and females have

not

Meaningful difference to each other in terms of enjoying the spiritual intelligence. In their research, Raghib et. al

(2008) found that there is a meaningful relationship between the age and service record and the spiritual intelligence

level. Also, in their research, karimi Monehgi et. al. (2012) found that there is a positive correlation between the age

and spiritual intelligence. Wiggles worth (2004) believes that the achievement of the skills of spiritual intelligence

doesn't occur (happen) by itself and automatically when the age increases, but the individuals can select and learn the

skills of spiritual intelligence when their age increases. On the other hand, over the time and aging, the individuals

can achieve higher levels of SQ(spiritual Quotient).

Also, the results showed that while mean spiritual intelligence of female group is less than mean spiritual intelligence

of male group, but this difference is not significant(meaningful). Other results in this research showed that there is no

relationship between spiritual intelligence and marital status. On the other hand, the difference in spiritual intelligence

(quotient) score was not statistically meaningful (significant) between the married persons and single ones. Like the

results of this research, Akbarizadeh et. al (2011) found that there is no meaningful (significant) difference between

spiritual intelligence and gender and marital status. In the analysis of spiritual intelligence, Hariri and zarrin- Abadi

(2011) found that there is no meaningful relationship between gender, marital status and spiritual intelligence level.

But in a research, karimi Moneghi et. al. (2012) evaluated the relationship between spiritual intelligence and the

marital status and gender and it was determined that there is a meaningful difference between them.

Variable

Resources

Scores' squares

sum

Mean of

scores' squares

sum

Freedom degree F Significance level

Inter-group 686.38 228.46 3

Inter-group 11712.66 112.62 104 2.02 0.114

Total 12398.66 - 107

Variables Gender

(sex)

Number Mean Standard

deviation

Freedom

degree

T Significance

level

Spiritual

intelligence

Staff 108 58.42 11.04

184 3.83 0.000 Faculty

Member

78 65.57 14.41


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On the other hand, spiritual intelligence of married persons and females is more than that of single persons and

males. Also, the results showed that there is a meaningful difference between scientific degrees of the compared

Faculty members in terms of spiritual intelligence level. The results of test show that just the difference in mean

spiritual intelligence (quotient) score of Faculty members in scientific degrees of associate professor or scientific

degree of trainer are meaningful. On the other hand, Faculty members with scientific degree of associate professor

have achieved (acquired) the highest scores in spiritual intelligence. In their research, karimi Monenghi et. al

(2012)found that the individuals with higher education achieve (acquire) better scores in spiritual intelligence

compared to the individuals with lower education. But in their research, Akbarizadeh et. al (2011) Found no

relationship between the spiritual intelligence and kind of educational degree. Also, the results showed that there is a

meaningful difference between five compared (studied) educational groups in terms of spiritual intelligence level. test

results determined that the difference in spiritual intelligence mean scores of Faculty members in educational group

of human science and agriculture and veterinary science group and medical science group, as well as the difference in

medical science group and basic science and technical-engineering group are meaningful.

In a research, Ahmadi and kajbaf (2008) found that there is no difference in different educational groups in terms of

spiritual intelligence.

But in the analysis of spiritual intelligence, Hariri and zarrin- Abadi (2011) found that there is a meaningful

relationship between educational field and spiritual intelligence. Other results of the present research showed that

there is no meaningful difference between four educational groups of the compared (studied) staff in terms of spiritual

intelligence level. On the other hand, the levels (values) of spiritual intelligence (quotient) among the degrees of

diploma, assistant degree, B. A. and M. A. are almost congruity (conformity) with the research results of Raghib et.

a. (2008) and Hariri & zarrin-Abadi(2011) who expressed that there is no relationship between education level and

the spiritual intelligence (quotient) value.

Finally, the results showed that there is a meaningful difference between the staff and Faculty members in terms of

spiritual intelligence (quotient). Mean spiritual intelligence (quotient) of Faculty members is more than mean of the

staff. Also, regarding mean of Faculty members, it can be said that instant exciting intelligence (quotient) was in the

average level. In their research, karimi Moneghi et. al. (2012) found that mean score of spiritual intelligence (quotient)

of Faculty members was in the average level. To justify the above-mentioned result, some factors can be indicated

which are not irrelevant. In a research, Ahmadi and kajbaf (2008) found that Family income is one of the factors which

can be effective on the spiritual intelligence level. As we know, Family income (earnings) of Faculty member is more

than that of the staff. In addition, the effect of higher education on the spiritual intelligence has already been discussed.

As we know, Faculty members enjoy more higher education compared to the staff.

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