Proceedings of the 32nd International Academic Conference, Geneva

GIFTED OR OLD? RELATIVE AGE AND GIFTED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION IN BILSEM

ALI UNAL, ABDULLAH SÜRÜCÜ

Abstract:

The relative age effect means the differentiation of success on the part of students of the same class because of the difference in their birth months, or the differentiation of success on the part of children of the same group because of maturity but not skills. Students who are identified as gifted are specially educated at centers called Science and Art Center (BILSEM) in addition to education they receive with their peers. This study aims to determine whether the relative age has a role in selection of students for BILSEM's. The data were collected from Konya Science and Art Center in Turkey. In the center, 534 selections were conducted until 2015-2016 academic year. Comparisons were made based on the frequency of birth dates of the registered students, Chi-square Goodness of Fit Test, and monthly and quarterly periods. The test results show that the relative age plays a significant role in selection of students at BILSEM's both on monthly (χ² = 57,96, p< .00) and quarterly (χ² = 22,16, p < .00) basis. Those born in the second quarter of the year (April, May, June) have been selected most while those born in the last quarter (October, November, December) have been selected least. The probability of being selected for BILSEM increases, compared to those born in the last quarter of the year, by 1,26 times for those born in the first quarter, by 2,15 times for the second quarter, and by 1,66 times for the third quarter.

Keywords: Relative age effect, gifted program, Science and Art Center (BILSEM)

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2017.032.039

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