Nurturing the Gifted

My photo of Mozart painting

 No one denies the importance of public education. Raising graduation rates and academic ability in the general population are highly accepted education system goals.

 Additionally, identification of learning disorders and the barriers to academic progress are the focus of many.

However, the study of the gifted is perhaps no less important but this topic receives less attention and research.

Matthew Makel and colleagues at Duke University and Vanderbilt University recently published an important study of gifted populations.

Using the Duke University Talent Identification Program they identified 259 U.S. adolescents designated as "profoundly gift" (top 0.01% or top score of 10,000 tested) using the following criteria:

• U.S. adolescents completing SAT before age 13
•  Achieving a score of 700 or better on the SAT-math
•  Achieving a score of 630 or better on the SAT-verbal

The research team then followed this profoundly gifted group using a validated web-based search strategy. The found the following results confirming the validity of early gifted status as a predictor of academic and occupational success:
1. Thirty seven percent had gone on to receive a doctorate degree
2. Academic tenure was achieved by 7.5%
3. U.S. patents were held by 9%
4. A significant number of the group held high level positions in major organizations

The manuscript provides fascinating graphic showing the diverse disciplines of the graduate degrees from this cohort. STEM degrees predominate but many also achieved doctorates in arts and humanities as well as law.

This current study confirmed a previous outcome analysis using the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth cohort (see Kell et al citation below).

The authors note 

"Profound intellectual talent, and its patterning, has cross-disciplinary and policy implications."

Individual interest appears to play a key role in outcome. School systems need to provide a wide ranges of exposures to various academic disciplines. Early identification of profoundly gifted individuals is important. This group benefits by guidance and academic opportunity.

This is an important study and highlights the need to develop gifted identification and nurturing the gifted programs.

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Photo of Mozart is a graphic design modification of a painting on the wall outside of the birthplace of Amadeus Mozart.

Makel MC, Kell HJ, Lubinski D, Putallaz M, & Benbow CP (2016). When Lightning Strikes Twice: Profoundly Gifted, Profoundly Accomplished. Psychological science PMID: 27225220

Kell HJ, Lubinski D, Benbow CP, & Steiger JH (2013). Creativity and technical innovation: spatial ability's unique role. Psychological science, 24 (9), 1831-6 PMID: 23846718