A discussion of identification procedures and instruments used for the six talent areas of giftedness is provided. The six areas covered include general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, creative and productive thinking, leadership abilities, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor skills. (PHR)

This study found no differences in content acquisition (as measured by a standardized test) of 167 gifted 10th graders in American Studies classes who received either a problem-based learning approach or traditional instruction. Results did not support the common assumption that curriculum fostering higher order thinking skills inevitably results…

Explains how middle level educators can provide learning environments supportive of gifted students by understanding in depth the differences and similarities between general education at that level and gifted education. (ET)

Analysis of the relative contribution of age, gender, and verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities (measured by subtests of the Scholastic Aptitude Test) as predictors of success in accelerated secondary science courses found that a composite of verbal and mathematical reasoning ability was the most powerful predictor and verbal reasoning…

Causal attributions for success and failure in science, mathematics, and English were studied with intellectually gifted secondary school students (n=30) and their nongifted siblings (n=32). For success in science, siblings had significantly higher effort and strategy attribution scores, and lower task easiness attribution scores than did gifted…

This study examined whether school entrance age was related to academic and social performance and whether the proportion of students referred to various programs correlated with age. Older students received more referrals for gifted evaluation, younger students received more placements in pre-first grade, and boys received more referrals for…

This study evaluated the achievements of 65 young entrants as beginning undergraduates in a highly selective university. Compared to nonaccelerants, subjects tended to graduate in a shorter period of time and earn more honors. Starting college with a large number of Advanced Placement Program credits was the best predictor of outstanding academic…

Comparison of 60 junior high school students (20 academically gifted, 20 academic achievers, and 20 "nongifted") found that the academically gifted students demonstrated more negative affective and physiological stress reactions to an experimentally induced failure condition. (DB)

This article discusses commonalities that exist between two popular educational approaches that provide options for a wide range of student achievement levels, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and the International Baccalaureate, especially the Primary Years Programme, in classroom practice. Introductions to the International Baccalaureate and…

Structural equation modeling (SEM) refers to a family of statistical techniques that explores the relationships among a set of variables. Structural equation modeling provides an extremely versatile method to model very specific hypotheses involving systems of variables, both measured and unmeasured. Researchers can use SEM to study patterns of…

This study compares 1988 National Merit Scholars enrolled in rural public schools with a senior class smaller than 99 students to other merit scholars and the national sample of SAT takers. Rural scholars were more likely to be female (45.5%) and Caucasian (98%) than other scholars. Involvement in extracurricular activities was significantly…

This study investigated the effectiveness of several intervention programs, in terms of increasing girls' participation in mathematics. The programs included two classes developed at Johns Hopkins University (an all-girls' accelerated mathematics class and a girls' career awareness class), and four school system-based programs based on the Study…

The role of the honors student on the urban, commuter campus is discussed with specific reference to the University of New Orleans. Prompted by a noted decline in the quality of the university's student body, an examination of the honor student population was conducted. Data were compiled from the ACT files and student records of all students who…

THE STIMULATION OF BRIGHT UNDERACHIEVERS WAS THE GOAL OF A PROJECT CONDUCTED IN NINE FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLS WITH A SAMPLE OF 44 EXPERIMENTAL AND 40 CONTROL GROUP STUDENTS. BRIGHT UNDERACHIEVERS WERE DEFINED AS STUDENTS WHO HAD SCORED ABOVE THE 75TH PERCENTILE ON THE SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ABILITY TEST IN THE NINTH GRADE, BUT WHOSE GRADES AVERAGED…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated the relationship between student scores on the five sub-scales of the School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised (SAAS-R) and the academic achievement of known groups of gifted achievers and gifted underachievers. The study examined whether gifted achievers and gifted underachievers…