Summary


EXAMINING THE PSEUDOSCIENCE BELIEFS OF GIFTED STUDENTS

Gifted individuals are a small qualified group in society. However, they constitute an important source of power for countries. Gifted students are expected to become science professionals in the future. In this context, it is important to determine where gifted students are at the point of separation between science and pseudoscience. The purpose of this study, which is based on this, is to examine the pseudoscience beliefs of gifted students. Designed by the survey method of quantitative research methods, this research included 147 students attending a Science and Arts Center (BİLSEM) in the Central Anatolia Region. Pseudoscience Belief Scale (PBS) was utilized as the measure in the study. The collected quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS software package, and the descriptive statistics were subjected to t test and ANOVA of parametric tests. It was concluded in the research that the participant gifted students were equipped enough to distinguish science and pseudoscience. Furthermore, participants’ levels of distinguishing science and pseudoscience did not differ by gender, whether they followed a scientific publication, and frequency of following the publication. In light of the research results, recommendations were made to disseminate scientific project applications in institutions of formal education as in BİLSEMs and gifted students are utilized as locomotives in such applications.



Keywords

Giftedness, gifted children, science, pseudoscience



References