Social Status of Gifted Student in Taiwan, ROC, as Assessed by TheirAge/Grade Peers

Abstract

This study investigated the social status of gifted children as assessed bytheir age / grade peers in Taiwan‚ Republic of China. The gifted subjects were from grades4-8‚ in both urban and suburban schools‚ who spent the larger part of the academic day in the regular classroom while partakingin a resource‚ or pull-out gifted program. All students completed a sociometric nomination instrument in which they rated their classmates. A 2 (Gender) by 2 (Group‚ gifted v.s. non-gifted) analysis was used to investigate group differences in children assigned by their peers to popular‚ rejected‚neglected‚or controversial group status. Gifted children are as popular as non-gifted children‚ although there may still be cause for concern about the percentage of gifted girls who are nominated. Although non-gifted boys are the most frequently nominated as "like most" of all the groups‚ they are also more likely to be nominated as "liked least." No gifted students were assigned to the unpopular group. Gifted children are no more likely to be considered neglected or controversial than their non-gifted counterparts. Students at the elementary level are more likely to be considered controversial than at the junior high level.