Assessing misconceptions about giftedness: development and validation of the RATIMAG

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 151 - 155

Merve Irem Ercan , Albert Ziegler

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16890153

Abstract

Many educators still assume that gifted students will thrive without special support or that they share the same traits and needs. Research shows otherwise, yet such misconceptions continue to shape how gifted learners are identified and taught. Indeed, misconceptions are sustained not only by enduring cultural narratives but also by insufficient coverage of giftedness in educator preparation and a scarcity of concise, research-based tools. The Rapid Assessment Test of Individual Misconceptions About Giftedness (RATIMAG) directly responds to this challenge by providing a rapid, reliable, and valid instrument to capture the scope and nature of such misunderstandings. Drawing on Wilson’s (1982) early myth-reality test and the 19 myths outlined by Treffinger et al. (2009), we created an initial pool of 103 items, refined them through multiple rounds of expert review, and retained 20 statements across three subscales: Characteristics and Needs of the Gifted (12 items), Assessment and Achievements (3 items), and Personality and Social-Emotional Aspects (5 items). Data from 494 participants—pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, and university lecturers—supported a clear three-factor structure and high internal consistency (overall α = .931). Misconceptions were most persistent in the social-emotional domain, highlighting a specific gap in teacher preparation and public understanding. Available in both English and Turkish, the RATIMAG lends itself to use in teacher training, continuing professional development, evaluation of gifted programs, and comparative international studies. By pinpointing misconception patterns, it supports interventions that strengthen evidence-based practice and promote a more comprehensive view of giftedness.

Keywords

Giftedness, Misconceptions, Myths, Educator Attitudes, Assessment Development, Scale Validation, RATIMAG

References

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