ERIC Number: EJ1019388
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Nov
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1932-202X
EISSN: N/A
Are There More Gifted People Than Would Be Expected in a Normal Distribution? An Investigation of the Overabundance Hypothesis
Warne, Russell T.; Godwin, Lindsey R.; Smith, Kyle V.
Journal of Advanced Academics, v24 n4 p224-241 Nov 2013
Among some gifted education researchers, advocates, and practitioners, it is sometimes believed that there is a larger number of gifted people in the general population than would be predicted from a normal distribution (e.g., Gallagher, 2008; N. M. Robinson, Zigler, & Gallagher, 2000; Silverman, 1995, 2009), a belief that we termed the "overabundance hypothesis." We tested this hypothesis by searching public datasets and the published literature for large representative datasets, 10 of which were found in 6 sources. Results indicated that the overabundance hypothesis was mostly unsupported by the data. Moreover, most datasets included approximately the same (or fewer) gifted individuals than would be predicted from a normal distribution. We conclude the article by exploring the theoretical reasons why the overabundance is likely untrue and why some might believe otherwise.
Descriptors: Gifted, Hypothesis Testing, Intelligence Quotient, Statistical Distributions, Literature Reviews, Journal Articles, Cognitive Ability, Intelligence Tests, Research Methodology, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Netherlands; United Kingdom (Scotland); United States
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A