Maura McDonnell

Purpose: This study examines the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) and social competence (SC) on career readiness among senior undergraduate students. With the evolving demands of the professional world, understanding these attributes provides essential insights into preparing students for successful career integration. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was utilized involving 330 senior undergraduate students selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie table for appropriate sample size. The Career Readiness Scale (CRS), Social Competence Inventory (SCI), and Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI) were employed to measure the respective constructs. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analyses performed using SPSS version 27. Findings: Descriptive statistics indicated average scores of 3.45 (SD = 0.88) for career readiness, 4.12 (SD = 0.75) for social competence, and 3.98 (SD = 0.81) for emotional intelligence. Pearson correlation results revealed significant positive relationships between career readiness and social competence (r = 0.61, p < 0.01), and between career readiness and emotional intelligence (r = 0.56, p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that these variables collectively accounted for 38% of the variance in career readiness (R² adjusted = 0.38, F = 14.36, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant predictive power of both emotional intelligence and social competence on career readiness in undergraduate students. These competencies are crucial for educational and professional development programs aiming to enhance students' transition into the workforce.

This study aims to explore the role of neurofeedback in managing behavioral issues in children with exceptional needs. This qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to gain deep insights into participants' experiences. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select 20 participants, including 8 parents, 5 neurofeedback practitioners, 4 educators, and 3 pediatric psychologists/psychiatrists. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify and develop key themes from the data, ensuring credibility and reliability through member checking and peer debriefing. The study identified significant improvements in children's attention, emotional regulation, social interactions, academic performance, and overall well-being following neurofeedback therapy. Participants reported enhanced focus, reduced tantrums, better peer relationships, improved grades, and increased energy levels. Challenges included accessibility issues, therapy duration, individual differences in response, and technical difficulties. These findings align with previous studies demonstrating the efficacy of neurofeedback in managing behavioral issues in children with ADHD, ASD, and other developmental disorders. Neurofeedback shows promise as an effective intervention for managing behavioral issues in children with exceptional needs. However, challenges such as accessibility, therapy duration, and technical difficulties need to be addressed. Future research should focus on larger, more diverse samples, control groups, and long-term effects. Practical recommendations include increasing accessibility, tailoring treatment plans, and integrating neurofeedback with other therapeutic approaches for holistic child development.