The Complexities of Gifted Students' Inner Lives: The Social Realm

• In Event: Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: International Perspectives on Gifted Education

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences and meanings provided by gifted students to social interactions with friends and classmates . The results are part of a larger longitudinal case study to explore the inner lives of Chilean middle and high school gifted students. A qualitative stance was the approach of the study using three different techniques for gathering data: Photovoice, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The results were consistent with previous literature: gender differences were found in the conception of friendship, competiveness appeared as a highly noticeable aspect for boys, and jealousy between classmates was mentioned by males and females. The dynamics of work groups within the classroom was a complex interaction described by participants.

Author

• Maria Paz Gomez-Arizaga, Universidad de los Andes