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Given recent changes in the conceptualization of intelligence and giftedness, this researcher examined the role of aspects of emotional intelligence (EI), intelligence (IQ), and teacher rating scales to clarify their ability to actually predict the academic success of gifted children. In relatively few empirical studies have researchers focused on EI as a predictor of academic success or explored EI in the gifted and talented population. This lack of research is surprising given the claims about social and emotional concerns within the gifted and talented population (i.e., Davis & Rimm, 1985; Osborn, 1996; Reis & Renzulli, 2004; Rimm, 1996). As such, the current investigator added to the body of research in this fledgling domain by providing empirical data on the predictive power of various criteria commonly used in the identification of gifted students, as well as explored the relatively new domain of EI and its impact on the academic success of gifted students. Specifically, this researcher examined the effect of two aspects of emotional intelligence on gifted students' academic success: emotion receiving ability and emotion regulation. Using a sample of gifted and talented (G&T) students, results were that, of the variables measured (i.e., gender, IQ, teacher rating scales, and aspects of EI), the gender of the student is the best predictor of success in a G&T program as females performed significantly better than males within the G&T program. In addition, a gender effect of emotion receiving ability on math achievement was demonstrated. Specifically, a significant negative correlation between females' emotion receiving ability and math achievement was indicated. Traditional measures of giftedness such as IQ and teacher rating scales did not significantly predict G&T student academic success in the mainstream setting or within the G&T program. It is quite possible that these variables (IQ and teacher rating scales) were not good predictors due to the lack of variability of these measures within the G&T student sample. Implications of the current research, including assessment, intervention, and time management issues for school personnel, especially the school psychologist, will be discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Sixty-one Hispanic and 140 white students were compared on two measures of intelligence: the WISC-R and the SOI-LA. The purpose of the study was: (a) to discover which instrument identifies more white and Hispanic gifted children, (b) to address semantic and figural differences within and between ethnicity, and (c) to examine the SOI-LA's predictive and concurrent validity with the WISC-R. The WISC-R identified 82 white and 24 Hispanic children as gifted, while the SOI-LA identified 39 white and 11 gifted Hispanic children. A Cochran's Q analysis showed differential attribution of giftedness between the WISC-R and the SOI-LA on the white population (Q[3] = 15.54, p < 05). Sign-Tests indicated differential performance for the white population between Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and the SOI-LA (Z = 3.14, 2-tailed p < .05) with more children accepted by the WISC-R. Verbal/Performance deficits on the WISC-R were significant for the Hispanic population with Performance IQ (PIQ) superior to Verbal IQ (VIQ), yet the SOI-LA did not show the same deficit. White children scored significantly higher than Hispanic children on VIQ. Similar results indicated that white children outperformed Hispanic children on the Semantic Composite factor of the SOI-LA. There were no differences between ethnicity on WISC-R PIQ or the Figural Composite Factor of the SOI-LA. White children scored higher on the Semantic than Figural Composites of the SOI-LA. The 26 subtests of the SOI-LA significantly predict FSIQ, VIQ, and PIQ, accounting for 43%, 40% and 29% of the variance for these factors, respectively. The highest correlation was between FSIQ and Cognition of Semantic Relations (CMS) at .51. These results indicate moderate predictive validity for the SOI-LA on the WISC-R. The claim that the SOI-LA is more appropriate for use with Hispanic children was not supported by this study. However, the SOI-LA moderately predicted WISC-R VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

This study implemented a treatment program focused on the improvement of gifted learning disabled students' academic self-perceptions through the enrichment of visual-spatial strengths. The rationale for this study was based upon the concept of abilities as developing competencies that can be altered characteristics of an individual. The notion of altering or changing abilities through the implementation of appropriate interventions (i.e. enhancing noncognitive factors) to improve domain specific areas of giftedness and learning disabilities was the impetus for this study. The research question aimed to determine if enrichment intervention activities positively produced an effect upon the academic self-perceptions of perceived general intellectual ability in Gifted Learning Disabled (GLD) students (i.e. how smart am I?). The participants were 4th and 5th grade public elementary school students who displayed strong visual-spatial skills and learning difficulties. This empirical study included a pre/post treatment design with a experimental group and a waitlist comparison group. The hypothesis was confirmed with treatment results demonstrating significant gains in perceived general intellectual abilities subsequent to the completion of a ten-week enrichment program. Research and practice implications for curriculum decisions and program interventions are discussed. Recommendations for future research considerations based on the findings from this study are included. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The researcher uses a postmodernist-influenced framework of open-ended questions, interactive discussion of responses, and other general interview guidelines from Seidman (1991), and additional gay-specific interview suggestions from Kong, Mahoney, and Plummer (2002), in his inquiry with four artistically-gifted, high-school-aged, gay and bisexual adolescent males. He investigates the applicability of the social and emotional needs previously affirmed in Friedrichs and Etheridge's three other research groups (1991, 1992, 1993.) Similar to his previous, more traditional research stages, the investigator implements frequently-used definitions of "giftedness" and "gay and bisexual youth," and draws on many pre-set interview questions as the focus of the research. He uses traditional data coding guidelines from Neuendorf (2002) to find summary themes in student responses. Again, similar to the past, current subjects' answers are described in terms of whether the majority of respondents affirm each hypothesized socially-constructed need and each proposed helpful approach. Differently from the three earlier stages, however, the present study uses postmodernist principles to dig deeper into the content themes evident in the youths' responses, reporting the contextual whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows associated with their needs and the fulfillment of those needs. The current investigation also adds a postmodern analysis on the overall content themes derived from the students, using the framework of Foucault (1977)-when the subjects' responses illustrate mostly disenchantment and unmet social and emotional needs-and the lens of Kumoshiro (2000)-when the youths' answers reveal general student engagement and fulfilled needs. The summary of content themes reveals that the previous stages' needs and approaches are affirmed by the present subjects for some, if not all, secondary grade levels. The postmodern analysis shows six particularly common themes in the subjects' comments, including behavioral priorities placed over time on identity development, resistance, construction of needs, dialoguing, resilience, and fluidity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This study sought to determine preservice teachers' beliefs regarding the role of "giftedness" in writing achievement. Specifically it sought to reveal whether preservice teachers believed writing a skill that could be taught and learned or a "gift," akin to natural talent or genius, that certain students are simply born with. The 192 preservice teachers who participated in the study included all students enrolled in eight sections of an introductory language arts course offered at a public university in upstate New York. The majority of the participants were full-time students in their junior or senior year of college. The research took place in two phases. The first phase involved an administration of Palmquist and Young's (1992) Writing Questionnaire. Items in the questionnaire determined the extent to which respondents believed writing to be dependent on "giftedness" versus the extent to which they believed writing a skill that can be taught and learned. Additional items required respondents to make self-assessments of their own writing skills. Four "extreme" subgroups, representing 66 participants, were formed based on the questionnaire scores: (a) Preservice teachers making high self-assessments of their writing ability, (b) Preservice teachers making low self-assessments of their writing ability, (c) Preservice teachers with high levels of belief in the notion of "giftedness" in writing, and (d) Preservice teachers with low levels of belief in the notion of "giftedness" in writing. A content analysis of these participants' Literacy Histories (Judy & Judy, 1983) made up the second phase of the research. References were coded according to three attributional categories: (a) ability/"giftedness," (b) effort/"learnability," and (c) influential others. Results indicated that preservice teachers emphasized the role of "effort" in writing achievement over that of "giftedness." However, some preservice teachers viewed "effort" in negative terms and admitted that they consciously chose not to expend great amounts of it in their writing. Results also indicated that preservice teachers believed "influential others"-teachers, parents, and siblings-to have had a substantial impact on their level of writing achievement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

While there is a growing awareness of the co-occurrence of giftedness and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), little is known about the clinical presentation of ADHD in intellectually gifted children. Current diagnostic decisions with this subpopulation are made employing procedures and norms developed using a nonexceptional population. However, it is unknown whether this common practice is appropriate. This study explored how intellectually gifted children perform on three commonly used measures of ADHD, specifically: (a) the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA); (b) the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale, Revised-Long Form (CTS); and (c) the Conners' Parent Rating Scale, Revised-Long Form (CPS). Children who met traditional criteria for giftedness (N = 90) were obtained from nearby public schools. Each was administered the TOVA and their parents and teachers completed a Conners' rating scale. The performance of these children was compared to normative data. It was hypothesized that: (a) gifted children would perform significantly better on the TOVA than normative children, and (b) no differences would be found between the performance of gifted children and the normative sample on both the CTS and CPS. The hypotheses were partially supported by the findings. Gifted children performed better on three of the five TOVA variables, but only for the younger children in the sample. In addition, no evidence of differences in scores was found between the gifted children and the normative sample on the CTS and CPS. The findings do, however, address the underlying clinical question regarding the appropriateness of using the normative data provided for the TOVA, CTS and CPS to assess ADHD in intellectually gifted children. Ultimately, the performance differences found for gifted children on the TOVA suggest that alternate TOVA norms are likely needed for younger ages. A rationale for adjusting the TOVA norms is proposed, and a few simple "rules of thumb" for transforming the age-based are summarized in an Adjustment Matrix. The differences on the CTS and CPS were found mostly for variables unrelated to ADHD and suggest that the normative data for the Conners' Scales can be used when assessing ADHD in gifted children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Views of giftedness have evolved from unilateral notions to multilateral conceptions. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological validity of the three-mathematical minds model (M3) developed by the author. The M3 is based on multilateral conceptions of giftedness to identify mathematically gifted students. Teachings of Poincare and Polya about mathematical ability as well as the theory of successful intelligence proposed by Sternberg (1997) provided the initial framework in the development of the M3. A secondary purpose was to examine the psychological validity of the three-level cognitive complexity model (C3) developed by the author. The C3 is based on studies about expertise to differentiate among gifted, above-average and average-below-average students at three levels. The author developed a test of mathematical ability based on the M 3 and C3 with the collaboration of mathematicians. The test was administered to 291 middle school students from four different schools. The reliability analysis indicated that the M3 had a .72 coefficient as a consistency of scores. Exploratory factor analysis yielded three separate components explaining 55% of the total variance. The convergent validity analysis showed that the M3 had medium to high-medium correlations with teachers' ratings of students' mathematical ability (r = .45) and students' ratings of their own ability (r = .36) and their liking of mathematics (r = .35). Item-subtest-total score correlations ranged from low to high. Some M3 items were found to be homogenous measuring only one aspect of mathematical ability, such as creative mathematical ability, whereas some items were found to be good measures of more than one facet of mathematical ability. The C3 accounted for 41% of variance in item difficulty (R square = .408, p < .001). Item difficulty ranged from .02 to .93 with a mean of .29. The analysis of the discrimination power of the three levels of the C3 revealed that level-two and level-three problems differentiated significantly among three ability levels, but level-one problems did not differentiate between gifted and above average students. The findings provide partial evidence for the psychological validity of both the M3 and C3 for the identification of mathematically gifted students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

At various times throughout history men of genius have been viewed either as mad or as sane and superior to the general population. This Project Demonstrating Excellence suggests that neither of these extreme views is correct and presents the view that giftedness is the product of a developmental process which involves the synergistic interaction of biological, psychological, and social/environmental forces. While this process may be facilitated by environmental stimulation and support, it may also be inhibited or arrested by oppressive socialization practices which stress conformity to average norms and promote a competitive quest for goods and power. Results of a survey of the life experiences and psychotherapeutic needs of 254 intellectually gifted adults and supplementary data derived from a small pilot survey of 18 psychotherapists suggest that many members of the gifted minority experience painful problems, including feelings of difference, interpersonal difficulties, and social isolation during adulthood as well as during childhood and adolescence. The survey results also suggest that gifted women experience difficulties as a result of their deviance from traditional sex-role norms and expectations. The survey data pertaining to psychotherapy are consistent with other research data demonstrating that positive therapeutic outcomes tend to be associated with therapist variables which include empathy, genuineness, positive regard for patients, nonpossessive warmth, and therapists' intensity and intimacy in therapeutic relationships with patients of all levels of intelligence. At the same time, the data suggest that psychotherapists must be highly intelligent and self-accepting enough not to experience feelings of threat, intimidation, awe, envy, competitiveness, and inadequacy when working with gifted patients and clients. Further analysis of the survey results suggests that therapists also need to be aware of the differing perceptions, experiences, problems, and needs of gifted adults in order to be optimally effective in working with them. These findings are placed within a biopsychosocial context, and recommendations are offered which call for further research and multimodal, integrative interventions on behalf of members of the gifted minority both in psychotherapy and elsewhere. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Gifted adults with learning disabilities (GALD) are a population that is often overlooked, undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed by educators. Because of their often "hidden" condition, these individuals are frequently troubled with a host of psychosocial problems. This study sought to identify unique characteristics of the GALD population with the hope of developing criteria to aid in diagnoses. A thorough search was conducted for relevant literature that examines characteristics of GALD as well as characteristics of the learning disabled (LD)-only and gifted-only populations (among others). The researcher developed an instrument that looked at how the characteristics clustered or grouped into various categories and how they discriminated among the three populations studied. The instrument was sent to an expert in the field to examine content validity. A pilot study was conducted to look at face validity. A field test was conducted at three major universities which supplied subjects for the three population groups of interest (GALD, LD-only, and gifted-only). The research question that guided this study was: "Can discriminations be made among college students who are GALD, LD-only, and gifted-only?" Parametric and nonparametric analyses were conducted. The results showed a clear distinction between the gifted group and both the GALD and LD groups. Some of the statements used in this instrument may help in the identification and characterization of certain individuals who are GALD. Analysis of the composite variables revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the students with a learning disability only and GALD when compared on a few items that characterized giftedness. Discriminant analysis was useful in understanding the distinctions. Results from a discriminant analysis led to the ability to predict group membership at significantly better-than-chance rates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Attention is a necessary foundation for learning. Factors that have an effect on attention are maturation (Miller & Weiss, 1981; Gibson, 1992), gender (Brickenkamp & Zillmer, 1998) and intelligence (Silverman, Chitwood, & Waters, 1986; Sankar-Deleeuw, 2000). Chess requires students to use attentional skills to play and compete successfully. It has been shown to improve performance in traditional learning areas and can be a substantial bridge to intellectual and emotional growth (Bettelheim, 1997; Christiaen & Verholfstadt, 1978). Playing chess over a period of time has resulted in higher standardized test scores (Liptrap, 1998). Chess provides an intellectually stimulating and rewarding recreational activity (Schmidt, 1982; Rifner & Feldhusen, 1997) that fosters an appreciation for the consequences of actions and enhances planning skills, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills (Graham, 1985; Horgan, 1987). The goal was to examine attention in middle school students. The research question examined was: To what extent can variance in attention in middle school students be explained by gender, age, giftedness, and chess activity? These hypotheses were tested: (1) Gender is a significant predictor of attention in middle school students. (2) Age is a significant predictor of attention in middle school students. (3) Giftedness is a significant predictor of attention in middle school students. (4) Chess activity is a significant predictor of attention in middle school students. Thus, 126 middle school students from two metropolitan area middle schools were asked to complete a brief questionnaire about their chess activity, their identification as "gifted," gender, and age. Students then completed the d2 Test of Attention. The d2 Test measures processing speed, rule compliance, and quality of performance and estimates individual attention and concentration performance. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relation among the variables of giftedness, age, gender, chess activity and attention and to determine the influence of the four independent variables on attention. Total R equaled .572 with an R2 of .305, an adjusted R of .305. Three variables (age, gifted, chess activity) made significant contributions to the measure of attention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The present study investigated predictive relations between accelerated performance on tests of infant development, infant behavioral style, and performance on tests of cognitive and creative ability during adolescence. In addition, infant behavioral style was also examined as a means to enhance the predictive power of tests of infant development. The research area concerning infancy and the preschool years has mainly focused on the average child or deviations spanning below the mean. Similarly, much of the research within the area pertaining to the gifted and talented has focused on school age children, with little emphasis being placed on giftedness in the early years of life. The current study attempted to explore the areas of intelligence and creativity from a developmental perspective. This was done through a longitudinal follow-up of individuals who took part in research studies examining early indicators of intelligence, learning, and temperament as infants/toddlers. All participants of the current study obtained at least a standard score of 120 using the Mental Developmental Index of the BSID at the time of original participation. Thirty-two participants were obtained for use in the current study who were originally assessed as infants/toddlers approximately 12-19 years ago. Participants were administered the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition, the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Figural Form B), and also filled out an updated demographic information sheet. Prior research has determined lack of predictive validity between infant and later tests of cognitive ability due to the limited verbal nature of the early standardized tests and the largely verbal nature of later standardized intelligence tests. It is also believed that aspects of infant behavioral style may contribute to the predictive validity of early standardized scores for later intelligence. It was hypothesized that the Bayley MDI score obtained as an infant/toddler would be significantly related to later creative ability. It was also hypothesized that infant/toddler behavior rating scores for test-affect extraversion, task orientation, and duration of orienting, when taken together, would be significantly related to later cognitive ability. Lastly, it was hypothesized that the addition of the three infant/toddler behavior rating scores to the Bayley MDI score would improve the predictive power over and above that predicted by the MDI score alone, in relation to later cognitive ability. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses did not yield significant results for the hypotheses reported above. However, a curvilinear relationship suggests that extremely high scores (130 and above) obtained during infancy may be related to later creativity, a finding that needs to be further explored with a larger sample size. Implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

This study sought to link both cultural macrolevel explanations and microlevel interactions to account for Korean American students' psychosocial adaptation and academic achievement through their acculturative experiences. To examine acculturation characteristics and ethnic orientations, the Korean American Acculturation Scale and the Ethnic Orientation Scale were administered to 466 students and 197 of their parents in the New York City and Chicago areas. Students and parents were divided into four acculturation style groups by the median score on two factors in the EOS (Korean orientation and Other-group orientation): (a) assimilation, (b) integration, (c) marginalization, and (d) separation. Students also completed the Domain-Specific Self-Concept Scale and the Learning Styles Inventory-III (LSI, Renzulli et al., 2002). To survey teachers' perceptions about Korean American students as gifted, the revised Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (Renzulli et al., 2002) was used. Seventy-nine teachers participated in this study. In addition, GreatSchools.net was used to collect contextual school data (e.g., school program, student-teacher ratio, school SES, and Asian student enrollment percentage). Ultimately 407 out of 466 students from 30 schools were analyzed by using a Hierarchical Linear Model (ELM) with two levels. Data were analyzed using a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) to assess the significance of independent variables on dependent variables. For gender and generation effects on acculturation characteristics (behavior and cultural value), females were characterized by a slower behavior acculturation rate into the mainstream culture than males. The more recent generations were more behaviorally acculturated into the mainstream culture. However, the adaptation process in cultural values was slow and depended on the generational status of Korean Americans. Korean Americans have adapted to the mainstream society by incorporating and changing selected cultural values. For gender and acculturation style effects on self-concepts (Academic, Appearance, Popularity, and Sensitivity to negative expression), female students showed lower Appearance self-concept than male students. Among four acculturation styles, integration style students showed higher Academic and Appearance self-concept than any other acculturation style groups. In terms of learning style preferences, female students preferred Peer teaching to male students. There were differences among acculturation styles in Direct instruction and Projects. However, there were no significant differences in most learning styles between integration style and separation style students. For the effect of acculturation style on teachers' perceptions of Korean American students as gifted, there was no the significant effect. Rather, there was the significant effect of GPA. The macrolevel (school-level) contexts have effects on the microlevel (student-level) in using a HLM. This study provided a "holistic" understanding of how Korean American students translated their experiences, thoughts, and feelings into school adaptation and academic achievement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Measurement of the abilities of gifted children is challenging. Identifying patterns of performance for gifted children has proven elusive. The WJIII COG, a theory-driven measure, purports to provide information about a child's pattern of abilities, including areas previously not measured by other cognitive instruments. Only one study has addressed the relationship between the WJIII COG and gifted children. (Rizza, et al., 2001). The purpose of this study was to examine the WJIII COG's appropriateness for use with gifted children. Interpretive guidance when using the WJIII COG with gifted children was sought. The following question was addressed: Do children of high intellectual ability display distinct patterns of performance on the WJIII COG Stratum II variables. If so, do these patterns qualitatively differ from the performance of children of non-high intellectual ability? The participants for this study were taken from the standardization sample of WJIII COG participants (N = 3,145). The participants were divided into two groups: high intellectual ability, Group 1 (N = 389), and "other," (Group 2) (N = 2756). Group 1 participants had a GIA Standard score of 120 or above. The participants were further divided into three subgroups, determined by age: preschool, school-aged, and college-aged. Approximately half of the sample was male. White participants were the majority of the sample (77.4-87.9%). Most participants were non-Hispanic (91.3-94.9%). Means, standard deviations, ranges, minimum values, and maximum values, were obtained. WJIII COG Stratum II variables were paired and compared. The comparisons made were ranges and point differences. Cumulative percentages of point differences were calculated at the 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 point levels. Two primary findings emerged. The first finding was that Group 1 participants scored higher overall than Group 2 participants when averages were compared. The second finding was that no gifted profile emerged for Group 1. Although no gifted pattern emerged, there was a great deal of variability within individual student profiles for both Groups. It was suggested that further research be directed at whether subtypes of students with high abilities could be identified that would have clinical implications congruent with multidimensional theories of giftedness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Literature from various fields of research and biographical sketches of eminent individuals suggests that the key to socially constructive success as an adult may in large part lie beyond the relatively simple idea of intellectual capability. A set of six factors-Optimism, Courage, Romance with a Topic/Discipline, Sensitivity to Human Concerns, Mental/Physical Energy, and Vision/Sense of Destiny-related to cognitive development but not measurable by traditional cognitive tests were explored for the first time among students. Collectively, these factors are referred to as "co-cognitive factors" because of their interdependence with cognitive development, and they appear to be integral to considerations of social capital because of their close association with life satisfaction, disposition, personality, and well-being. A quantitative study with a correlational descriptive design was conducted using two forms of the Co-Cognitive Factors Scale (Co-CFS) and an associated survey with a convenient sample of high school juniors and seniors from 11 states. Data from this study were used to establish additional information regarding the content validity of the Co-CFS. Multivariate analyses, including MANOVA, MANCOVA, and canonical correlation, were conducted to examine the factors as a set with regard to motivation, happiness, student grade point average (GPA), and involvement in extracurricular activities (particularly those associated with community- or service-oriented work). Interaction involving GPA, optimism, Vision/Sense of Destiny, and motivation were identified. Results suggested inverse relationships that require additional research. Scale score means and alpha reliabilities were higher when students were thinking about topics or subjects of interest to them. Community-oriented extracurricular involvement, utilized as a proxy for social capital, was a significant contributor to the prediction of students' levels of Courage, Romance with a Topic/Discipline, and Sensitivity to Human Concerns. This study provided a first look at the distribution, relevance, and abundance of the co-cognitive factors among a high school student sample. Results from this first empirical study pertaining to co-cognitive factors support additional research on co-cognitive factors, which appear may be significant contributors to student success, personal satisfaction, and development of social capital. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This dissertation is designed as a final report of a study that sought to understand the impact that participating in a program for the academically gifted has on its students. The study examined those effects in the context of social, emotional, and academic changes that the students experience as a result of their involvement in the program. This dissertation outlines background information for the study including a description of the setting, nature and significance of the problem, research questions, and definition of terms. The report includes a detailed review of literature in order to further demonstrate the significance of the problem in current social constructs as well as to provide additional information regarding academic giftedness. This paper outlines the research process under the guidelines of a qualitative approach by employing a case study analysis of 1 third grade child, 2 fourth grade children and 1 fifth grade child participating in a specific program for the academically gifted selected through a criterion sampling. Additionally, the parent(s) or caregiver(s) of the participants as well as the teachers of the program were involved in the research in order to extend the depth and breadth of the data. The results of the research proposed in this paper will provide a greater understanding of how children are academically, socially, and emotionally affected by participating in a program for the academically gifted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Elite athletes compete at the highest level of their chosen field and elite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes are considered by many to be the greatest all around trained athletes in the world. Mental preparation is considered the distinguishing form of preparation that separates the successful athletes from the less successful at a level where many are physically comparable. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand more fully the experience of elite MMA athletes and their utilization of mental preparation. Research participants consisted of eight professional MMA male athletes who were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Five categories containing a total of 17 major and 11 minor themes regarding mental preparation were revealed. Elite MMA athletes considered mental preparation vital to their success and discussed their personal mental training program. Participants expressed what mental preparation tools were used in their training regime and how they utilized these preparation tactics including their personal preferences. This study and results indicate that elite MMA athletes utilize various forms of well-known mental preparation and uphold certain personal preferences. In addition, these elite athletes would benefit from comprehensive mental preparation training and learn how to better improve their mental performance just like they do with their physical performance. This is a population of special individuals who are set apart with mental and physical giftedness deserves further attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Metacognition is an umbrella term that encompasses many related constructs about the knowledge and regulation of one's own thinking processes. Metacognitive knowledge about memory and attention has been found to correlate with intelligence levels and has been viewed as one component of giftedness. In this paper, definitions of both metacognition and giftedness are explained and situated in context so that the relationship between the two may be explored further. I also describe traditional and nontraditional methods of identifying children as gifted. While previous studies of metacognitive differences between gifted and nongifted children have been based on students traditionally identified as gifted, my study employed a non-traditional identification method, the DISCOVER assessment. In the study, I examine metacognitive knowledge about three elements: memory, attention, and decision making, in gifted and nongifted second-graders through an interview. The two main purposes of the study were to explore metacognitive knowledge about decision making, which had not been studied previously, and to see if varying the method of identification for giftedness would affect the metacognitive advantage for gifted children found in prior studies. No significant differences were found among the types of metacognitive knowledge studied. Statistically significant differences were found between the scores of gifted and nongifted children, with gifted children demonstrating greater ability to articulate their metacognitive knowledge. A qualitative discussion of students' responses illustrates areas in which the two groups of children differed in their understanding of their own thinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Research examining the cognitive characteristics of gifted children is limited. Not much is known about the underlying cognitive mechanisms that lead to gifted performance, which confines the educator in the attempt to develop the potential excellence in all learners through enriched instruction. The purpose of the present researcher was to examine executive functioning as a possible cognitive characteristic of giftedness. The process for identifying students for an enrichment program within a specific district in New York was examined. The participants, including second grade students that were screened for but found ineligible for the enrichment program (n = 17), and second grade students that were found eligible for the enrichment program (n = 37), were administered a measure of cognitive ability (WJ III BIA) and a measure of executive functioning (TOL). The first proposed hypothesis asserted that there would be group differences on the measure of executive functioning, specifically, students in the gifted group would score significantly higher. The second hypothesis proposed that there would be group differences on the measure of IQ, specifically, students in the gifted group would score significantly higher. The third hypothesis posed that executive functioning would be a significantly stronger predictor of group membership when compared to IQ. Results supported the second hypothesis, in that students in the gifted group scored significantly higher on a measure of IQ (p = .03) than students in the non-gifted group. Additional exploratory analyses examined the effect that subjective teacher recommendations may have upon the screening process. Results support the lack of knowledge about the underlying cognitive mechanisms that may lead to gifted performance. Future researchers should examine alternative subfunctions of executive functioning, as well as additional cognitive and behavioral characteristics, in an attempt to narrow the definition of giftedness. Implications for school psychology and related disciplines within the domain of education include more effective identification and programming for gifted students, as well as the possibility of developing curriculum that will allow for the enhancement of these abilities in all learners. In addition, there are implications for training programs for school psychologists, as well as those for other professionals within education. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This dissertation reports a study of racial/ethnic representation in gifted education and its relationship to the identification methods used in a large, school district in the southeastern Unites States. The data consisted of the results of five ability and/or achievement tests used to determine gifted eligibility for second graders in 2004-2005 and subsequent third graders in 2005-2006, totaling approximately 5,000 students. Test scores generated from the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT), and/or Performance Tasks for Gifted Education (PTT) were studied. Race/ethnicity was defined based on a consolidated version of the ethnic codes found in the data file provided by the school district. For the purpose of this study, five distinct racial/ethnic classifications were used. They were white, black, Asian, Hispanic, and students classified as other races/ethnicities. The study found that race/ethnicity and identification methods were related when certain tests were administered. Overall findings indicated a significant relationship between race/ethnicity and giftedness regardless of identification methods. When CogAT was the only identification method used, overall findings indicated a significant relationship between race/ethnicity and giftedness. When various combinations of the CogAT, ITBS, MAP and PACT were examined, overall findings indicated a significant relationship between race/ethnicity and giftedness. When overall findings were significant, the study presents results of follow up test analysis to determine comparisons between various races/ethnicities. Finally, when combinations involving the PTT were studied, findings showed that race/ethnicity and classification as gifted was not significantly related. As seen in earlier findings, however, the study also indicated that, while the PTT increased the number of typically under-represented races/ethnicities in gifted education, its overall impact in addressing continued disproportionality in the gifted education program in the selected school district was limited due to fewer numbers of students being administered the test. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This manuscript-style dissertation presents four essays that provide theoretical and empirical insights on a systematic theme of cultural perspectives on talent development and parenting. Topics addressed include Western and Chinese perspectives on concepts of giftedness and talented performance, cultural issues related to nature and nurture, and parenting influence on talent development. The first essay reviews both Western and Chinese literature on giftedness and introduces a preliminary Chinese model of talented performance. One important feature to emerge from the literature is a de-emphasis on giftedness as an innate ability and an emphasis on the concept of talented performance from the Chinese perspective. Such a finding is congruent with a Confucian cultural outlook that encourages effort rather than the identification of giftedness, which is a focus of the next paper. The second essay presents a reflective review of Confucian philosophy on learning and achieving, examines its influence in China and other Asian countries, and discusses its implications for the education of gifted and talented children. The third essay explores the influence of parenting beliefs and practices on children's talent development through a specific perspective of Chinese American families with gifted children. Research questions focused on parents' beliefs and practices concerning how to nurture high achievement among children. Findings of this study include evidence of a sense of responsibility for parenting, a high level of confidence about children's future, and a mixed strategy of parenting which combines traditional Chinese practice and adopted Western ideas of parenting. The last essay investigates parenting beliefs and practices of a small group of individuals who have achieved an extreme level of talented performance: winning a Nobel Prize. Analysis of the interviews revealed that these Nobel laureates have common as well as unique experiences and beliefs about parenting, which may provide valuable information and implications on how to better help the young population achieve talented performance. A summary of the four essays with a focus on the links between the topics among these essays will be presented at the end of the dissertation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)