Measuring adults’ social and emotional competencies: Development and validation of a new self-report questionnaire – Social and emotional competencies questionnaire - Hebrew (SECQ-H)

Abstract

This study presents the development and validation of the Social and Emotional Competencies Questionnaire in Hebrew (SECQ-H), which aims to assess the social and emotional competencies (SEC) of adults in Israel. This instrument is grounded in the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework for social and emotional learning (SEL), which categorizes SEC into five core areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The SECQ-H was developed to address the need for universal, culturally appropriate SEC measures. Following a comprehensive translation and adaptation process, a pilot version was utilized as a tool for self-reflection and framing during professional development activities for educators. The final version was administered to 573 educators across Israel. Analyses provided support for the validity of CASEL’s 5-factor model and the reliability of the resulting scales. Factor analysis patterns shed light on the theoretical distinctions between the underlying constructs. Findings also revealed significant differences between the scales’ average ratings. The SECQ-H shows promise for use in educational contexts such as professional development, pedagogical discourse, research, and program evaluation. It may also be a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners in other fields and for additional populations. Future research should explore convergent validity with other assessment methods and adapt the questionnaire for additional cultural contexts, including developing an Arabic version.