Enhancing emotional intelligence through creative process in KOMSAS drama for secondary school students: the design and development of Create-EMO

This study focuses on emotional intelligence (EI) through creative processes (CP) among secondary four school students, developing the Create-EMO module for KOMSAS drama activities in the Malay Language subject. Based on Goleman's Emotional Intelligence model, the ASSURE instructional design model, and the Wallas Creative Process, this module was developed to support structured, theory-based creative learning. The study used a quasi-experimental design with an explanatory mixed-methods approach, involving treatment and control groups and pre- and posttests to assess changes in EI dimensions. The module development process also underwent expert validation, including assessments of the appropriateness of content, language, activities, and technological elements. The expert panel reached an agreement level of over 79%, leading to improvements in instructional clarity, time management, and the technical delivery of the module. Quantitative findings showed significant improvements across all four EI domains, with large effect sizes in most dimensions, except Self-Management, which showed a moderate improvement. The qualitative phase further explained the students' experiences that influenced the development of these components. Module acceptance was also analysed using the constructs of Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Attitude and Acceptance. Multiple regression showed that all three predictor constructs explained 78.9% of the variance in the module acceptance, confirming its relevance in the classroom context. Overall, this study not only assessed the effectiveness of EI, but also presented a creative pedagogical model that integrates emotional development, social interaction and creative exploration. The findings offer important implications for educators and policymakers in their efforts to foster emotional intelligence through creative approaches in secondary education.