The Journal of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

(3 rd item was negatively oriented)
Figure 3: Pre & post responses to items relating to social value.
Even though there was a statistically significant change with a moderate effect size in
relation to the leadership item, it still only rated as a low 3 in the post survey administration,
illustrating that respondents were not strongly behind the idea, as explained by some respondents:
“I took offence to this originally as it was almost like saying that gifted people are superior or better
equipped to be leaders and that doesn’t follow at all from my own experience. Some of the smartest
people I know are introverted and not good at leadership stuff” (Sally, 2008).
“I can see that gifted individuals will be of great value to society as inventors or researchers who
develop cures etc but I think leadership is perhaps different. Although you do want leaders to be clever
it doesn’t follow that you would be good [at leading] just because you are [gifted]” (Jarryd, 2010).
Table 3: Wilcoxin signed rank/ effect size results for social value items.
Item Z p Total N Ties r
13 -7.030 .000 664 198 .33
17 -.744 .457 656 133 .03
25 -7.982 .000 660 59 .33
33 -9.117 .000 662 104 .39
*r values in bold indicate a large effect size, while values in italics indicate a medium effect size.
Interestingly, the one positively worded item in the entire survey which had a lower response
in the post survey, related to being considered gifted (Item 17). This was also one of two items where
differences in responses were not statistically significant. Reflective responses about this item
illustrated how an understanding of giftedness and all the associated complexities provided a totally
different perspective in regard to personal value:
“I always envied the kids at school who were gifted but I can see now that for many of them it wasn’t
enviable – when I read the poem square and brown it made my heart ache for how some of them must
feel - so misunderstood” (Mary, 2010).
“I originally thought it would be fantastic to be gifted – that it was a real prize but after completing this
unit I can see that there are a lot of difficulties faced especially at school. I guess if giftedness was
embraced in our system like with sport then it would be different but we haven’t got there yet” (Paula,
2009).
Gifted and Talented International – 26(1), August, 2011; and 26(2), December, 2011. 39