Latent class cluster analysis in exploring different profiles of gifted and talented students

Abstract

With respect to intervention related to gifted students, numerous studies highlight the need for teachers to recognise different types of high-ability students and to be aware of the differences in these students' cognitive and motivational characteristics such that they can provide better assistance. A latent class cluster analysis was performed to analyse the unobserved heterogeneity in a group of 358 gifted secondary students. Moreover, a multi-variate analysis of variance, and a univariate analysis of variance of repeated measures were performed to determine whether there were differences in the profiles of the cognitive and motivational variables between the identified classes. The results revealed the existence of four latent clusters, with different profiles, within the gifted student population: a) gifted achievers; b) cognitive gifted; c) creative gifted; d) high achievement and cognitive gifted.