Comparison of 39 high school students in a gifted challenge program and 39 controls found no effect of gender or program for sex-role orientation or global self-concept. However, gifted students and female students were more anxious and gifted students were less satisfied with life than regular program students and males. An undifferentiated…

Statistics are presented concerning background characteristics of 292 students who scored well on the mathematical sections of the Scholastic Aptitude Test at age 12 or younger. Discussed are the ratio of girls to boys, geographic distribution, verbal ability, parents' education level and occupational status, siblings, and educational…

Provides an overview of research literature on gifted children and their families with an emphasis on the endogenous and exogenous factors that can create or exacerbate psychosocial problems. Describes current conceptualizations of giftedness. Suggests an eclectic, eco-systemic approach to three common concerns that bring gifted children and their…

A study involving 112 gifted seventh- and eight- graders found 87.5 percent were perfectionists. Most (58 percent) were in the healthy range of perfectionism, while 29.5 percent were in the neurotic range. Neurotic perfectionists were limited by their fixation on making mistakes, which resulted in a constant state of anxiety. (Contains…

I am honored by the articulate comments of the respondents to the questions raised in the lead paper, "Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right: Sacrificing the Needs of Gifted Students Does Not Solve Society's Unsolved Problems." These five colleagues have proved themselves to be sensitive to the multiple issues and constituencies involved and highly…

This practicum attempted to increase the number of minority elementary students in prekindergarten through grade 5 found eligible for placement in a gifted program by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the screening instruments and by providing inservice training to increase the understanding of gifted characteristics and program…

Characteristics of the gifted and ideas for working effectively with gifted students are presented in this guide for teachers. A list of behavioral traits exhibited by gifted students precedes a discussion of the myth that gifted individuals can be expected to perform perfectly in all areas of endeavor. Included in a discussion of learning…

The extent to which financial concerns cause high-ability high school students who desire highly-selective colleges to choose less-selective institutions was investigated, as was the influence of student and parent characteristics on this decision. Data collected from 1,483 students in six cities in the United States show that the more a…

This study investigated differences among intellectually gifted students of junior high age participating in full-time intensive programs for the gifted. Findings indicated some differences based on ethnicity and gender, but most differences were observed between lower and higher socioeconomic groups, particularly for social support and social and…

Reports on a comparison of the psychosocial adjustment of 50 academically gifted German 10-year olds with 50 of average intelligence 10-year olds. Finds no significant differences between the two groups. Finds elementary school gifted children are at least as socially and emotionally well-adjusted as their nongifted age mates. (CFR)

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…

Phenomenological interviews conducted with 30 attendees and 15 alumni of Wyoming's High School Institute (HSI), a summer residential program for high ability 15-year olds, identified 2 primary themes relating to the social and emotional needs and experiences of the subjects. Themes included social experiences and awareness of others. Subcategories…

Describes the Music Honors Program in Millburn (NJ) High School. Discusses student selection, program characteristics, and the importance of public performances. Concludes that the program helps maintain student interest in music and gives music more equitable status within the school curriculum. (CFR)

A 2-year project investigated the ability of secondary school teachers to identify the top 10 percent of students in each of four subjects, English, French, physics, and mathematics. The students were tested on a wide range of aptitudes and attitudes at the beginning of their third form (ninth grade). Teachers were asked to list students they…

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…