Assessing the Empirical Support of Characteristics Lists of Gifted Students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Roundtable: Behaviors and Learning Concepts

Abstract

Characteristics lists of gifted students are everywhere. Importantly, they’re used to teach parents and practitioners and guide action for identification. But do they have empirical support or are they built entirely on good intentions? This paper responds to recent calls for assessing characteristics lists for their empirical evidence foundations. Using a purposeful sample of lists from different sources (textbooks, popular pressbooks, government websites, and school websites), I report on whether characteristics lists cite primary research and whether that research supports the claims being made by the lists.

Author

• Matthew C. Makel, University of Calgary