3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

THE EMPLOYABILITY MODEL FOR THE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE OF

PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY

1,2

Nur Sofia Nabila Alimin1 and Siti Rahmah Awang2

Department of Human Resource Development, Faculty of Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
Johor, Malaysia
(pianabila91@gmail.com, atieawang@hotmail.com )

ABSTRACT
The purposes of this study are to identify the intelligence profiles of People with Epilepsy (PWE) and to build
an employability model by using logistic regression analysis which consists of significant factors that lead to
high employability. The data used in this study are retrieved from the previous study by Awang in 2012 on
the multiple intelligence of PWE in Malaysia. The sample consists of outpatients at the Neurology
Department, Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL) and Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Johor Bahru.
The sample size from HKL is 148 patients and from HSA are 67 patients that made up a total sample of 215
patients. Two main methods used in this study are descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The
descriptive statistics shows that intelligence profiles of the PWE most possessed are mediocre level of
musical intelligence (40.5%), high level of kinesthetic intelligence (40.5%), high level of math/logic
intelligence (38.6%), high level of spatial intelligence (41.4%), mediocre level of linguistic intelligence
(38.1%), high interpersonal intelligence (57.2%), high level of intrapersonal intelligence (58.6%) and
mediocre level of naturalistic intelligence (41.4%). From the logistic regression method, an Employability
model was built. As a conclusion, the model developed shows eleven significant factors that increase the
chances for the PWE to be employed namely gender, marital status, education background, age, onset age,
musical intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, logic/math intelligence, spatial intelligence, intrapersonal and
naturalistic intelligence.
KEYWORDS: People with Epilepsy (PWE), Multiple Intelligence (MI), Employment Status, Logistic
Regression.

1. INTRODUCTION
Epilepsy is one of the common chronic serious neurological diseases that affect approximately 50 million
individuals (Lim et.al., 2013). Epilepsy is a term given for syndromes of epileptic seizures. An epileptic
seizure is a disorder of the nervous system in which abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes a seizure
(Schmidtand and Willis, 2007). However, although epilepsy can be related to the brain, it has no correlation
with the individual intelligence (Awang et.al., 2013).
Seeking an employment is one of the main problems faced by the people who living with epilepsy.
In the previous researches, epilepsy is associated with high expected rates of unemployment and
underemployment. For example, a survey conducted in the United States revealed that 25% PWE were
unemployed as compared with 5% of the overall population. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the
unemployment rate was 46% among PWE as contrasting to 19% in the general population (Varma et.al.,
2007).
The aim of this study is to identify the intelligence profiles of PWE and to build an employability
model. Psychometric test called ATIE2008 was used to develop the profiles of the PWE and then a logistic
regression was applied to build the model that was based on the Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligence
(MI) theory (Gardner, 1983).

3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

2. OVERVIEW
This study discusses the major problems that were faced by PWE to get and to retain their job. Based on
previous research by Lim et al., (2013), the percentage of the unemployment rate for PWE in Neurology
Clinic and Ward at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia was 27% (n = 250) which was
considered high. Therefore, it could be concluded that unemployment problem is an issue to the PWE.
Several studies also confirmed the unemployment and underemployment rates are generally higher
for PWE as compared to general population (Smeets et.al., 2007). PWE also has been known to have
significant problem related to their employment for more than three decades. As example, PWE experience
objective boundaries such as those related to driving or working in situations in which they may be open up
for injury (Smeets et.al., 2007).
A way to help the PWE identifies their capability and capacity in finding jobs is by using measuring
instruments or tools. One of the ways it can be performed is by using psychometric tests. This psychometric
test refers to the testing done to individuals in order to measure their competency in a specific area of
functioning. In this study, a psychometric test namely, ATIE2008 is used to identify the level of intelligence
that the PWE possess and also to help in building an employability model that revealed the significant factors
for them in getting engage with a job.
3. METHODS
3.1

Subjects

This study is a continuation on a previous study by Awang (2012). So, the data used in this study is a
secondary data obtained from her previous work. The study was conducted in two different hospitals which
are Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA). A total of 148 samples obtained
from HKL and had been analysed in previous study by Awang (2012) while the remainder 67 samples were
collected from HSA but has not been analysed in previous study due to time constraint. Thus, the final
sample used for this study is the combination data that were collected from both HKL and HSA with a total
of 215 samples.
3.2

Instruments

The main instrument used in this study is a psychometric test called Ability Test in Epilepsy, ATIE (Awang,
2008), which was developed based on Gardners Multiple Intelligence theory that comprises of eight
intelligences. This instrument measured the total scores of multiple intelligences possessed by PWE which
are divided into eight types namely musical, bodily/kinesthetic, math/logic, spatial, linguistic, interpersonal,
intrapersonal and naturalist.
The psychometric test was divided into nine parts. The first part is about demographic profiles of the
respondents and the illness background. The next eight parts are the respondents intelligence profiles which
consist of 11 items for musical intelligence and 10 items for the other seven intelligences. The summary of
the parts can be seen in the Table 1.1 (Awang, 2012).

Part
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Table 1.1: Summary of the Psychometric Test

Item
Number of Items
Demographic Information
15
Information on illness
3
Musical
11
Bodily Kinesthetic
10
Math/Logic
10
Spatial
10
Linguistic
10
Interpersonal
10
Intrapersonal
10
Naturalistic
10
Source: Ability Test in Epilepsy, Awang (2012)

3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

In order, to measure a particular intelligence, a 5-point Likert scale was used ranging from 1 that
represents not at all like me to 5 that represents definitely me. To measure each of the respondent
intelligence, the total point for each part was calculated by adding all the scores in each item for each part
start from part 2. The subject is intelligence profile for each of the intelligence is represented by the mean
scores for each part and the level of intelligence that can be interpreted from the scores is furnished in Table
1.2.
Table 1.2: The level of Intelligence
Intelligence
Score Range
Score Level
Level
0.00 to 1.00

None

1.10 to 2.00

Very Low

2.10 to 3.00

Mediocre

3.10 to 4.00

High

4.10 to 5.00

Very High

None/Weak
Mediocre
High
Source: Ability Test in Epilepsy, Awang (2012)
3.3

Statistical Analysis

In order to fulfill the study objectives, logistic regression analysis is applied. Logistic regression sometimes
called the logistic model or logit model analyzes the relationship between multiple independent variables and
a categorical dependent variable and also estimates the probability of occurrence of an event by fitting data to
a logistic curve (Park and Hyeoun, 2013). For this study, the event is probability for the occurrence of the
PWE in being employed P (Y=1) or not employed, P (Y=0).
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1

Intelligence Profiles of PWE

From Table 1.3, it can be seen that most of the subjects posses mediocre level of musical intelligence
(40.5%), high level of kinesthetic intelligence (40.5%), high level of math/logic intelligence (38.6%), high
level of spatial intelligence (41.4%), mediocre level of linguistic intelligence (38.1%), high interpersonal
intelligence (57.2%), high level of intrapersonal intelligence (58.6%) and mediocre level of naturalistic
intelligence (41.4%). From this table, it can also be seen that the PWE have high intelligence in intrapersonal
and interpersonal with more than half of them, 58.6% and 57.2% respectively.
Table 1.3: Frequency Distribution for PWEs Intelligence Profiles
Variable
Musical intelligence
(Cat_Music)
Kinesthetic intelligence
(Cat_Kines)
Math/Logic intelligence
(Cat_Math)
Spatial intelligence
(Cat_Spatial)
Linguistic intelligence
(Cat_Verbal)
Interpersonal intelligence
(Cat_Inter)

Level of Intelligence
None/Low
Mediocre
High
None/Low
Mediocre
High
None/Low
Mediocre
High
None/Low
Mediocre
High
None/Low
Mediocre
High
None/Low
Mediocre
High
3

Percentage (%)
35.3 (76)
40.5 (87)
24.2 (52)
22.8 (49)
36.7 (79)
40.5 (87)
29.3 (63)
32.1 (69)
38.6 (83)
21.9 (47)
36.7 (79)
41.4 (89)
25.6 (55)
38.1 (82)
36.3 (78)
14.4 (31)
28.4 (61)
57.2 (123)

3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

PWEs Employability Model

4.2

There are eleven significant factors includes four categories from demographic profiles, one factor from
illness background and six categories of intelligence profiles with their own value of constant namely gender,
marital status, category of education, age of the respondents during answering the questionnaire, onset age,
musical intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, logic/math intelligence, spatial intelligence, intrapersonal and
naturalistic intelligence that increases the chances for the PWE to be employed.
(1)
where the employability model,
Ze = 3.143 8.627 * G1 + 8.960 * S1 + 12.972 * Ed1 + 18.035 * Ed2 0.285 * A1 0.229 * A2 + 3.101 * Xmu2
+ 2.892 * Xk1 4.074 * Xk2 3.767 * Xma1 + 4.983 * Xs2 6.676 * Xia1 +2.450 * Xn1
G1
S1
Ed1
Ed2
A1
A2
Xmu2
Xk1
Xk2
Xma1
Xs2
Xn1
Xia1

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

(2)

Gender (1)
Marital Status (1)
Education Background (1)
Education Background (2)
Age
Onset age
Musical intelligence (2)
Kinesthetic intelligence (1)
Kinesthetic intelligence (2)
Mathematical intelligence (1)
Spatial intelligence (2)
Naturalistic intelligence (1)
Intrapersonal intelligence (1)

If the calculated probability of employment status is > 0.5, then we can say that the PWE is likely to be
employed. If the probability of employment status is < 0.5, the PWE is likely to be unemployed. For example
if, the demographic profiles, illness background and intelligence profiles for the PWE have the following
values as described in Table 1.4.
Table 1.4: Summary of Example of Characteristics of PWE
Variables
G1
S1
Ed1
Ed2
A1
A2
Xmu2
Xk1
Xk2
Xma1
Xs2
Xn1
Xia1
P (E)
Employment Status

Label
Female
Single

Values
1
0

College

Age
Onset age
Mediocre
High
High
Mediocre
High
Mediocre

25
5
1
2
2
1
2
1

0.85
Employed

3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

The calculation for the example can be calculated as below:

1) Substituting all the characteristics value in Table 1.4 into equation (2)
Ze =

8.627 + 18.035 * (2) 0.285 * (25) 0.229 * (5) + 3.101 * (1) 4.074 * (2)
3.767 * (2) + 4.983 * (1) 6.676 * (1) + 2.450 * (2)

Ze =

1.715

2) Substitute the value Ze into equation (1)

P (Y= 1) =

= 0.85

The results shows that the PWE is more likely to be employed with the P (Y) = 0.85.
5. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the findings showed that the PWE have high intelligence in intrapersonal and interpersonal
with more than half of them, 58.6% and 57.2% respectively and almost half them in spatial intelligence
(41.4%). This is different from previous findings from Awang (2012). In her study, the PWE possessed high
intelligence in intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalistic intelligence. She also found that the PWE have
low intelligence in musical, logic/mathematical and naturalistic.
This study was also conducted to determine the significant factors that help to increase the chances
for the PWE to be employed by building an employability model. Elevens significant factors were found to
be related to PWE employment status which are gender, marital status, category of education, age of the
respondents during answering the questionnaire, onset age, musical intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence,
logic/math intelligence, spatial intelligence, intrapersonal and naturalistic intelligence.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from UTM of Vot 00K55.
REFERENCES
Awang, S. R., Aripin, R., Rafia, M. H., Ahmad, T. (2013). The classification of Multiple Intelligences of
People with Epilepsy using Fuzzy Inverse Model. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied
Sciences 9 (2), pg 86-92.
Awang, S. R. (2012). Intelligence Classification and Fuzzy Optimization Model of People with Epilepsy.
PhD Thesis, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Awang, S. R. (2008). Ability Test in Epilepsy Malaysia Patent No 129396. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
Lim, S. K., Wo, S. W., Wong, M. H., Tan, C. T. (2013). Impact of epilepsy on employment in Malaysia.
Epilepsy &Behaviour. 27, 130-134.
Schmidtand, R. F., and Willis, W. D. (2007). Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer-Verlay Berlin Heidelberg.
Smeets, V. M. J., Lierop, B. A. G., Vanhoutvin, J. P. G., Aldenkamp, A. P., Nijhuis, F. J. N. (2007). Epilepsy
and Employment: Literature Review. Epilepsy and Behaviour. 10, 354-362.
Park and Hyeoun-Ae (2013). An Introduction to Logistic Regression: From Basic Concepts to Interpretation
with Particular Attention to Nursing Domain. J Korean Acad Nurs. Volume 43 (No 2), 154-164.

3rd International Conference on Accounting, Business and Economics (ICABEC2014)

Varma, N. P., Syalaja, P. N., George, L., Sarma, P. S., Radhakrishnan, K. (2007). Employment concerns of
people with epilepsy in Kerala, south India. Epilepsy and Behaviour. 10, 250-254.
Authors Bibliography
Nur Sofia Nabila Alimin currently completing her Master thesis in Human Resource and Development at the
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai. This author graduated from the UTM, Skudai in Bachelor of
Science (Industrial Chemistry).