Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-103). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR19729

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2009. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, page: .

Dissertations (Ed. D.)--Rowan University, 2010. / Typescript. "UMI Number: 3397971"--T.p. verso. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this case study was to observe the condition of teacher-perceived ability to recognize giftedness in children in one elementary school. Experiences of 16 teachers of Grades 2–5 (the grades served by the gifted education program) were examined by responding to a questionnaire to determine their history with gifted education, definition of giftedness in children, and involvement in the gifted child referral process. Existing data were examined to determine which of the teachers had accurately identified gifted children. The 3 teachers who had accurately identified a gifted child were interviewed. Questionnaire and interview responses were analyzed in the context of Clark’s (2002) Cognitive Function Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Learners. Results of the study showed that teachers in this school did not receive adequate pre-service or in-service training in recognition of the gifted population. The study revealed that in this elementary school, students who did not meet a teacher’s preconception of the term giftedness went unreferred for gifted testing. The process of selection used by teachers when considering a student for referral was subjective in nature and influenced by classroom observations, other teachers’ opinions, and the teachers’ personal experiences with giftedness outside of classroom practices. Data suggest that confidence and accuracy in referring students were positively influenced by years of teaching experience. Recommendations include the following: that colleges and universities prepare pre-service teachers to identify characteristics of gifted children; that in-service teachers receive professional development in identification of gifted traits in students; and that federal legislation include language that provides for the special needs of gifted students and mandates training for pre-service teachers in meeting the needs of this population.

Research paper (M.A.) -- Cardinal Stritch College -- Milwaukee, 1980. / A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education (Reading Specialist). Includes bibliographical references (49-55 p.).

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The purpose of this qualitative research, using narrative inquiry, was to describe, illuminate, and analyze the perspectives of a unique population - six high performing adolescents - who reflected on their educational experiences in Vermont. With input from their parent/guardians, their educators and the students themselves, this study was intended to shine a light on the experience of each of these participants. “The central idea of narrative analysis is that stories and narratives offer translucent windows into cultural and social meanings” (Patton, 2002, p. 116). This study is framed in their first-person voices to reveal the perspectives of students, parents, and teachers related to the education that these talented learners encountered in Vermont. As the starting point, my research questions related to perceptions of the students‟ educational experience and those factors leading to success as well as those which inhibited their learning. To provide an understanding of their educational experiences, I focused on first-person narratives from students, their parents, and an educator the students nominated as having made a significant positive contribution to their education. Next, I present a collective case study including the perspectives of the students, family members and teachers illuminating the essential elements of each group as culled from their descriptions. Drawing upon these descriptions, I describe the successes and challenges from the perspective of the student, family, and teachers. Findings suggest these participants hold stories similar to one another. Students, parents, and educators related experiences that resonated with one another in their commonalities. Generally, the findings point to the importance of parents, teachers, and opportunities to learn with academic and artistic peers as being significant. These high performing students also valued independent learning experiences, flexible scheduling, and higher level reading experiences. Using their first-person accounts as the basis of this study, I conclude with a discussion of the implications of my findings and recommendations for the education community involved with high performing students.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

The exponential growth of the Hispanic student population and the controversial educational issue surrounding the assessment of English language learners are the two fundamental topics of this study. Due to the uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding the assessment of the escalating Hispanic student population, the underrepresentation of Hispanics in gifted and talented (GT) programs has developed into a critical educational concern (Bernal, 2002; Irby & Lara-Alecio, 1996; Ortiz & Gonzalez, 1998). The research questions that guided this study focused on finding validated assessments for early identification of the gifted Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) in kindergarten. The first research question aimed to determine the concurrent validity of the Hispanic Bilingual Gifted Screening Instrument (HBGSI) using the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) and Wookcock Language Proficient Battery-Revised (WLPB-R) selected three subtests, administered in English and Spanish. This study found a positive statistically significant correlation between the HBGSI, the NNAT, and WLPB-R subtests. The second question focused on the correlation between language proficiency as measured by the WLPB-R subtests and nonverbal intelligence measured using the NNAT. This analysis found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the NNAT and the WLPB-R subtests. The third question concentrated on the difference in performance on the NNAT and WLPB-R subtests by two student groups, those identified and those not identified GT using the HBGSI. The study determined that the students identified GT performed statistically significantly different on the NNAT than those not identified GT. The fourth question centered on the difference in performance on the HBGSI of students enrolled in a transitional bilingual education (TBE) and those enrolled in an English as a second language (ESL) classroom. The results of my study showed that students in a TBE classroom performed statistically significantly different on five HBGSI clusters (Social & Academic Language, Familial, Collaboration, Imagery, and Creative Performance) than students in ESL classroom. The study’s results were analyzed, interpreted and discussed in this dissertation.