What Changed Since 1994: Attitudes Toward Gifted Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Research on Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent SIG Roundtable (Table 1)

Abstract

This study explores educator attitudes towards gifted education since 1994, examining variables such as gender, experience, school level, educational degree, contact with giftedness, training in giftedness, school type, age, marital status, subject taught, and location. Using a descriptive synthesis approach, the study reviewed 43 empirical studies utilizing Gagné's (1994) attitude questionnaire. Findings indicate mixed results across variables, with younger, trained, and experienced educators generally showing more supportive attitudes. The research highlights the importance of understanding these factors to develop targeted interventions and improve educational outcomes for gifted students, emphasizing the need for reliable, psychometrically validated tools to assess attitudes towards gifted education.

Authors

• Adam Uzeyir Ogurlu, Utah Valley University

• Fatih Ozkan, Baylor University

• Adnan Ozbay, University of North Texas