Research Article

A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students

Number: 2 March 12, 2026
TR EN

A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of gifted students who exhibit underachievement through a case study approach from the perspectives of students, teachers, and parents. The study group consists of two gifted high school students identified as underachievers, their mothers, and their subject teachers at Science and Art Centers (BILSEM), selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interview forms developed in line with the components of the Achievement Orientation Model including self-efficacy, task value, environmental perceptions, and self-regulation, as well as questionnaires administered to teachers. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that the development of underachievement differed markedly between the two students. While underachievement in one student was largely situational and related to contextual factors, it evolved into a more chronic and persistent pattern in the other student. The components of the Achievement Orientation Model emerged as distinctive across both cases, with differences in task value, teacher–student relationships, and self-regulation skills playing a critical role in the development of underachievement. Additionally, the distance education period had differentiated effects on students, indicating that standardized educational practices do not produce uniform outcomes for all gifted learners. Overall, the findings suggest that gifted underachievement is a multidimensional and context-sensitive phenomenon. The study highlights the need for school-based interventions that extend beyond academic support and incorporate motivational and psychosocial dimensions to prevent and address underachievement in gifted students effectively.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

All ethical procedures were followed in this study. Ethical approval for the research was obtained from the Bartın University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee. The ethics committee approval number is 2025-SBB-1078.

References

  1. Assouline, S. G., Colangelo, N., Ihrig, D., & Forstadt, L. (2006). Attributional choices for academic success and failure by intellectually gifted students. Gifted Child Quarterly, 50(4), 283-294. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698620605000402
  2. Baker, J. A., Bridger, R., & Evans, K. (1998). Models of underachievement among gifted preadolescents: The role of personal, family, and school factors. Gifted Child Quarterly, 42(1), 5-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698629804200102
  3. Barbier, K., Donche, V., & Verschueren, K. (2019). Academic (under)achievement of intellectually gifted students in the transition between primary and secondary education: An individual learner perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2533. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02533
  4. Baslanti, U., & McCoach, D. B. (2006). Factors related to the underachievement of university students in Turkey. Roeper Review, 28(4), 210-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783190609554366
  5. Baum, S. M., Renzulli, S. J., & Hébert, T. (1995). The prism metaphor: A new paradigm for reversing underachievement. The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented.
  6. Chere N. E., Hlalele D. (2014). Academic underachievement of learners at school: A literature review. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(23), 827-839. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p827
  7. Collins, K. H., Roberson, J. J., & Piske, F. H. R. (Eds.). (2023). Underachievement in gifted education: Perspectives, practices, and possibilities. Routledge.
  8. Creswell, J. W. (2016). Qualitative research methods, qualitative research and research design according to five approaches. Sage.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Special Talented Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 12, 2026

Submission Date

December 30, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 2

APA
Yonar Uğurlu, S., & Leana Taşcılar, M. Z. (2026). A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 2, 400-432. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1852008
AMA
1.Yonar Uğurlu S, Leana Taşcılar MZ. A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students. BUEFAD. 2026;(2):400-432. doi:10.14686/buefad.1852008
Chicago
Yonar Uğurlu, Seda, and Marilena Z. Leana Taşcılar. 2026. “A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, nos. 2: 400-432. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1852008.
EndNote
Yonar Uğurlu S, Leana Taşcılar MZ (March 1, 2026) A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education 2 400–432.
IEEE
[1]S. Yonar Uğurlu and M. Z. Leana Taşcılar, “A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students”, BUEFAD, no. 2, pp. 400–432, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.14686/buefad.1852008.
ISNAD
Yonar Uğurlu, Seda - Leana Taşcılar, Marilena Z. “A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education. 2 (March 1, 2026): 400-432. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1852008.
JAMA
1.Yonar Uğurlu S, Leana Taşcılar MZ. A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students. BUEFAD. 2026;:400–432.
MLA
Yonar Uğurlu, Seda, and Marilena Z. Leana Taşcılar. “A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 400-32, doi:10.14686/buefad.1852008.
Vancouver
1.Seda Yonar Uğurlu, Marilena Z. Leana Taşcılar. A Case Study on the Experiences of Underachieving Gifted Students. BUEFAD. 2026 Mar. 1;(2):400-32. doi:10.14686/buefad.1852008

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Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education