Ebook: Beyond Terman: Contemporary Longitudinal Studies of Giftedness and Talent

"_Beyond Terman: Contemporary Longitudinal Studies of Giftedness and Talent_ is an important contribution to the literature in two fields - those of gifted education and educational research. It is significant for the former in terms of the insights and understandings it provides about giftedness and its nurture. It is important for the latter for its elucidations of the methodology associated with longitudinal research. The editors point out that [the] volume presents recent collected works that demonstrate the fit between longitudinal methodology and the central issues of gifted education. Collectively, the studies investigate the early determinants of later academic and career achievement and creativity while employing varied identification practices, perspectives, theoretical orientations, and populations. The studies described vary along many dimensions, including research problem, sample size and character, length of study, data collection procedures and sources, and longitudinal orientation (i.e., emergent/developmental or retrospective). The studies deal with a variety of talent areas, such as academic achievement, science, technical creativity, music, creative and productive thinking, and career development. The samples include gifted and talented children, youths, and adults, both males and females. Although most of the studies deal with identified gifted/talented individuals, one is a retrospective look at the achievements of graduate students in a university-level leadership education program. Studies originating in Germany and Israel add an international flavor and, more importantly, remind us that there is good research being conducted beyond the borders of the U.S.
By having each of the contributors follow a similar format in their presentations, the editors - both of whom report on their own longitudinal studies - made it easier for the reader to view the studies cumulatively so that when the last chapter is reached, the "Lessons from the Collected Studies" are clear and make good sense."