Research Article

MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

Volume: 27 Number: 2 August 31, 2026
EN TR

MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

Abstract

This study aims to examine the intellectual structure, conceptual orientations, and temporal development of the international literature on the early identification of gifted children through a bibliometric approach. The dataset comprises 77 articles published between 1969 and January 2025 in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection; all focus on early identification. Data were collected through a systematic search of the WoS database, and bibliometric techniques were employed to analyze publication trends, country and institutional productivity, citation patterns, author collaborations, and thematic structures based on keyword co-occurrence. The findings reveal a notable increase in scientific output on early identification, particularly after 2007, with an average annual growth rate of 2.92%. Country-level analysis indicates that the United States leads in scientific impact, while institutions such as the University of Ioannina and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki lead in productivity. Thematic analysis shows that the literature continues to becentered around “intelligence” and “achievement,” although there has been a growing emphasis on regulatory cognitive processes such as “executive functions” and “effortful control” in recent years. Overall, the results suggest that despite a strong theoretical shift toward multidimensional and inclusive models, research practices remain largely grounded in traditional IQ-based frameworks, indicating that a comprehensive conceptual transformation has yet to be fully realized.

Keywords

Bibliometric analysis, Early childhood, Early identification, Giftedness, Intelligence.

Supporting Institution

There is none.

Project Number

Bulunmamaktadır.

Ethical Statement

No ethical approval was required as the study utilizes publicly available bibliometric data.

Thanks

There is none.

References

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  2. Borland, J. H. (2009). Myth 2: The gifted constitute 3% to 5% of the population. Moreover, giftedness equals high IQ, which is a stable measure of aptitude: Spinal tap psychometrics in gifted education. Gifted Child Quarterly, 53(4), 236–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986209346825
  3. Brown, S. W., Renzulli, J. S., Gubbins, E. J., Siegle, D., Zhang, W., & Chen, C. H. (2005). Assumptions underlying the identification of gifted and talented students. Gifted Child Quarterly, 49(1), 68–79. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698620504900107
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  7. Carter, P. L., & Welner, K. G.(Eds.). (2013). Closing the opportunity gap: What America must do to give every child an even chance. Oxford University Press.
  8. Coleman, L. J., & Cross, T. L. (2001). Being gifted in school: An introduction to development, guidance, and teaching. Prufrock Press.
  9. Chamberlin, S. A., Buchanan, M., & Vercimak, D. (2007). Serving twice-exceptional preschoolers: Blending gifted education and early childhood special education practices in assessment and program planning. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 30(3),372–394. https://doi.org/10.1177/016235320703000305
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APA
Kavruk, S. Z. (2026). MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 27(2), 524-539. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1882966
AMA
1.Kavruk SZ. MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY. INUJFE. 2026;27(2):524-539. doi:10.17679/inuefd.1882966
Chicago
Kavruk, Sevinç Zeynep. 2026. “MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27 (2): 524-39. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1882966.
EndNote
Kavruk SZ (August 1, 2026) MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27 2 524–539.
IEEE
[1]S. Z. Kavruk, “MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY”, INUJFE, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 524–539, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.17679/inuefd.1882966.
ISNAD
Kavruk, Sevinç Zeynep. “MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education 27/2 (August 1, 2026): 524-539. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1882966.
JAMA
1.Kavruk SZ. MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY. INUJFE. 2026;27:524–539.
MLA
Kavruk, Sevinç Zeynep. “MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY”. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, vol. 27, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 524-39, doi:10.17679/inuefd.1882966.
Vancouver
1.Sevinç Zeynep Kavruk. MAPPING THE EARLY IDENTIFICATION LITERATURE ON GIFTEDNESS: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY. INUJFE. 2026 Aug. 1;27(2):524-39. doi:10.17679/inuefd.1882966