Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Management
Advisor
Branford McAllister
Abstract
With a lack of research regarding the relationship between emotional intelligence and safety culture in the aviation industry, safety professionals have inadequate information to reduce human error, the leading cause of tragic aircraft accidents. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which there is a relationship between emotional intelligence and safety culture in the business aviation industry. This study was grounded on Reason’s theoretical model for safety culture, enhanced by Wang and Sun, and the emotional intelligence framework by Salovey and Mayer, enhanced by Jordan and Lawrence. A quantitative descriptive correlational approach was used with convenience sampling to capture data from 257 business aviation participants in the United States. The online survey consisted of 52 questions to obtain demographic data, emotional intelligence scores, and safety culture scores, integrating two established instruments—the Workgroup Emotional Intelligence Profile–Short and the Integrated Safety Culture Model. Multiple linear regression was employed to determine the relationship between the primary independent variable, emotional intelligence, and several dependent variables related to measures of safety culture. The analysis revealed that emotional intelligence is a strong predictor of safety culture. Therefore, aviation safety professionals implementing progressive measures to integrate emotional intelligence testing and training may improve safety culture and reduce human error. The results of this study can effect positive social change by reducing serious incidents and accidents in aviation, therefore improving air transportation for the general public.
Recommended Citation
Bates, Sonnie, "Emotional Intelligence and Safety Culture in Business Aviation" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13978.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13978
