Identification of giftedness in preschoolers: Are some environmental factors related to cognitive assessments?

Abstract

This study has the objective of examining parental perceptions, some home environmental factors, and SES on a child's cognitive development. Two groups were used to collect data, a high SES group and a low SES group. Twenty-six preschool children, 13 females and 13 males (24 Caucasian, one African American, and one Asian) were referred for giftedness. Parents responded to two surveys, one questionnaire, and an interview. The children were administered two cognitive skills tests: (a) The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (Kaufman & Kaufman, 1983), KABC and (b) the Qualitative Use of English and Spanish Tasks, QUEST, (Gonzalez, 1991). Qualitative analyses was used to: (a) describe parental perceptions about the meaning of giftedness; and (b) describe parental perceptions about the development of giftedness. A total of seven patterns were found. Quantitative analyses was used to: (a) explore any relationship between parental perceptions and their own child's cognitive abilities; (b) explore any relationship between some environmental factors and the child's cognitive abilities; and (c) explore any relationship between the parents socioeconomic status and their own child's cognitive abilities. Quantitative results suggest that some home environmental factors do influence a child's cognitive abilities. Quantitative results also suggest that the parents' SES influences the child's performance on cognitive skills tests.