Diagnosis of the Level of Development of Theoretical Thinking in Intellectually Gifted Younger Students

Abstract

We describe the development of the theoretical thinking in primary school students and its relationship with intellectual ability in gifted children in elementary school (I-IV classes). We analyze the relation of theoretical thinking development to general intellectual abilities in gifted younger students (students of the Moscow school № 1514) and in general secondary school pupils. Based on this study, we obtained an idea of the extent to which the development of the theoretical level of thinking among primary school students may be an indicator of their general intellectual abilities, both present and potential. The author suggests that the result of solving problems in theoretical thought is directly linked with the level of intelligence in gifted students. Diagnostic techniques of theoretical way of thinking can be used to identify elementary school students with a high level of intellectual development and to predict the further development of their intellectual abilities.

Keywords

• gifted students
• theoretical thinking
• intellectual ability