Character Assessment of Gifted and Talented Learners: An Initial Study
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This initial study is conducted with purpose to assess the character of Malaysian gifted and talented learners. The main objective of the study is to gather baseline data that could be used to develop self-profile of this population of learners, which could be utilized to predict their future success and holistic wellbeing. Specifically, the research examines the respondents’ character in the cognitive, emotional, physical, leadership, spiritual, and citizenship domains. A total number of 194 students from Pusat PERMATApintar™ Negara, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia – a ‘living laboratory’ school established in 2011 to spearhead the gifted and talented education paradigm of the nation – were purposively sampled as the research’s respondents. A set of questionnaires consisted of 72 items (5-point Likert scale) was administered to the respondents in a duration of 60 minutes. Data was descriptively analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. Overall findings show that the respondents possessed satisfactory character traits in all domains (overall mean value was 3.86, and independent mean value was ranging from 3.63 to 4.13). The findings of this research works provide useful information that could help Pusat PERMATApintar™ Negara and other stakeholders of Malaysian gifted and talented education, in developing effective character building programme as well as the support system (in terms of psychoeducational programmes and counselling services) to holistically mould the students’ personality and wellbeing.
KEYWORDS
Character assessment, case study, gifted and talented, Malaysian education