Creative attitude in a group of youths gifted in the domain of science subjects

• Main Authors: Monika Sztolpa, Aleksandra Lewandowska-Walter, Małgorzata Lipowska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2016-05-01
• Series: Current Issues in Personality Psychology
• Subjects: creativity; gifted student; nonconformity; heuristic behaviour; identifying talents
• Online Access: http://www.termedia.pl/Creative-attitude-in-a-group-of-youths-gifted-in-the-domain-of-science-subjects,75,27342,1,1.html

Background We attempted to assess whether students identified by their teachers as gifted in the domain of science are characterised by significantly higher levels of intelligence and creativity than other students. We investigated the features of their personalities that are indicators of their exhibited creative or reproductive attitude in the cognitive and the motivational domains. As a consequence, criteria will be developed for identifying gifted students. Participants and procedure Ninety-seven students, aged 13-17, took part in the study. The students were previously identified by their teachers as gifted. Levels of intellectual functioning were assessed using a battery of tests for diagnosing intelligence (APIS-P) and Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM). Creativity was estimated using the Test for Creative Thinking – Drawing Production (TCT-DP), and creative attitude was assessed using the KANH questionnaire. Results Analysis of the results revealed that students nominated by their teachers scored significantly higher than their peers in general intelligence and creativity tests. Moreover, they were characterised by a more frequent choice of heuristic behaviours in the cognitive domain and nonconformity in the motivational domain. Additionally, there was a statistical trend a general creative attitude among the nominated students. Conclusions We found that gifted students scored high on general intelligence and creativity tests. Consistency between the teachers’ nominations and our results indicates that the criteria for identifying gifted students are appropriate. Moreover, instructing teachers about a creative attitude helped them to also identify gifted students with higher levels of nonconformity and who create their own heuristics for behaviour. These characteristics are valuable for innovative activity, which is what programmes for gifted students try to encourage.