Using examples of gifted students in specialized programs, the author discusses the phenomenon called "code switching." Code switching is the name given to the process of alternating between one linguistic code and another. The author learned early on that most gifted students feel different from their nongifted peers, mostly about being…

Peer relationships form a key developmental context. The current study investigated differences in peer acceptance between high-ability and average-ability youth, from the perspectives of teachers, peers, and students. Relying on the person-group similarity model, we also tested whether high-ability students' acceptance would depend on the peer…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between identified gifted adolescents and adolescents not identified as gifted in terms of social acceptance and self-concept (peer relations, academic, and general). In addition, we aimed to investigate the differences between two groups of students identified according to different…

The role of interaction and the importance of relationships with peers and significant others in the development of gifted adolescent girls' self-perceptions of ability are explored. Findings are based on a qualitative study which utilized participant-observation, interviewing, and artifact collection in one middle school. Ten girls (grades 6-8)…

Responses of high IQ students and moderate IQ students to a set of questions about friendships were compared. Ss preferred friends of their own sex. More high IQ Ss reported their friends to be older than themselves, that they did not have enough friends, and that being smart made it harder to make friends. (CL)

Four studies focus upon possible changes in the extent to which children consult adults and peers at the preadol escent (fourth grade) stage. A sharp change at the preadolescent stage to consult peers was confirmed. (CD)

Responses from interviews with over 400 gifted students (7-18 years old) were grouped into areas of students' perceived difficulties, which included lack of explanations about giftedness, unchallenging school work, overly high expectations, teasing by other children, lack of understanding by peers, lack of acceptance, and feelings of helplessness…

The study with gifted children (N=64) in grades 4-8 with classroom peers (N=432) not identified as gifted found gifted boys were the most popular although gifted girls were the least popular. Overall, children not identified as gifted were rejected more and boys were rejected more than girls. (Author/DB)

Available from: Department of Special Education, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608.

Eleven of 42 musically talented children, aged 10 to 17, who participated in an interview study of the early lives of talented musicians spontaneously remarked on problems they had experienced with the failure of peers to appreciate their musical accomplishments or learning activities. (Author/DB)

A student attitude questionnaire was given to 1,465 gifted and talented adolescents who identified 5 strategies used to deal with potentially stigmatizing events (cover up, lie, placate, be truthful, and cop-out). The placate coping strategy was the most frequently used across scenarios. (DB)

Gifted adolescents (N=184) completed the Attitude Toward Giftedness Questionnaire. Results indicated they were positive about their giftedness but did not believe that others were positive, and that they viewed giftedness as positive for their personal growth and academic performance but negative for their social relations. (Author/DB)

The author of EC 602 983 comments on his areas of research interest, speculates about the reasons why the social adjustment of kindergartners appears so different from that of older elementary school children, and examines the benefits of providing kindergarten experiences that maximize interactions among bright pupils. (JDD)

Analysis of the essays of 3,514 Minnesota secondary students indicated that the majority (53.8%) would choose to be the smartest student in their class rather than the best-looking or the most athletic. Content analysis data, however, suggested significant awareness of an anti-intellectual stigma advanced by peers. (Author/CR)

The article reviews research regarding the peer relationships of children considered gifted because of IQ or academic rank. Studies are noted with preschool, elementary, and high school gifted populations. (SB)