| This study explored feelings of isolation among gifted and nongifted students. Further, gender differences and feelings of isolation were explored. Lastly, differences between feelings of isolation among African American and White students were explored. There are seven research questions that were examined: (1) How do gifted students differ from students not identified as gifted in their feelings of isolation? (2) How do males differ from females in their feelings of isolation? (3) How do African American students differ from White students in their feelings of isolation? (4) How do gifted males, gifted females, males not identified as gifted and females not identified as gifted differ in their feelings of isolation? (5) How do gifted African American students, gifted White students, African American students not identified as gifted and White students not identified as gifted differ in their feelings of isolation? (6) How do African American males, African American females, White males and White females differ in their feelings of isolation? (7) How do gifted African American males, gifted African American females, gifted White males, gifted White females, African American males not identified as gifted, African American females not identified as gifted, White males not identified as gifted and White females not identified as gifted differ in their feelings of isolation?; Based upon the research questions, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) Gifted students and students not identified as gifted differ with respect to feelings of isolation. (2) Male students and females students differ with respect to feelings of isolation. (3) African American students and White students differ with respect to feelings of isolation. (4) There is a significant interaction between giftedness and gender with respect to feelings of isolation. (5) There is a significant interaction between giftedness and race with respect to feelings of isolation. (6) There is a significant interaction between race and gender with respect to feelings of isolation. (7) There is a significant interaction among giftedness, race and gender with respect to feelings of isolation.; A causal comparison research design was employed. Two hundred sixty-nine African American and White students in grades 9 through 12 were surveyed.; The School Achievement Among Black Students Survey ( SPSABSS) (Ford, 1991) was chosen to measure feelings of isolation.; To determine whether statistically significant differences in feelings of isolation across groups existed, one 3-way analysis of variance was employed on group mean scores for the dependent variable, feelings of isolation.; The overall interaction of giftedness, race and gender was not statistically significant F(l, 261) = 0.011, p > 0.05.; The interaction of gender and race with respect to feelings of isolation was statistically significant F(l, 261) = 5.83, p < 0.05.; The interaction of giftedness and race on feelings of isolation was statistically significant F(1, 261) = 13.89, p < 0.00.; The interaction of giftedness and gender on feelings of isolation was statistically significant F(1, 261) = 4.17, p < 0.05. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
