Landmark+Study+of+the+Highly+Gifted

Back to homepage A Landmark Study of Highly Gifted Children Was Conducted by Leta Hollingworth Leta Stetter Hollingworth was a renowned psychologist who studied gender differences, adolescents, the "mentally deficient" and the highly gifted. Her doctoral dissertation, under Thorndike, dispelled the common belief that females were disabled during their menstrual periods. However, it was her groundbreaking work with children with extremely high IQs that really distinguished her, as indicated in two books. The second book, published posthumously by her husband, is considered a landmark piece of research.

**Abstract: **
===="12 very exceptional children were known and studied, some for as long as 23 years. The author at the time of her death in 1939 had been bringing a survey of them up to date. ==== ====Part I, on general orientation, contains chapters on the concept of intellectual genius, on the early scientific study of eminent adults, and on published reports of tested children. ==== ====Part II describes the 12 cases new to the literature, 7 reports having been formulated by H. L. Hollingworth from data left in the files of the author. Information besides that of repeated testings includes, whenever possible, facts concerning heredity, educational and social information, character traits, physical measurements, creative activities, test records of brothers and sisters, etc. Talking and reading most clearly differentiated the records of these children from the norms. Difficult educational problems were presented from school entrance. 1/3 showed notable signs of creativeness. As these children matured, they maintained their high initial intellectual status. ==== ====Part III, giving selections from or complete reproductions of published papers, presents the author's views concerning general principles and about the social and educational implications resulting from her study of children of high intelligence." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) ====

**Brief Review**
====I had heard that this was an excellent book, but given its age, it was hard to find. However, the book was republished, I bought a copy, and I think I read it straight through. I found the case studies of the highly gifted students intriguing! One thing that was pervasive in the cases of the students was the creation of an imaginary world. Some made very sophisticated worlds with a language, geography, economic and political system, etc. ====

====I highly recommend this book not only for the information that it provides on highly gifted students, their nature and nurture, but also for the insights that it provides about the development of giftedness in general. It is well-written and doesn't seem dated. ====