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Making a List Requires Checking It Twice: A Call for Empirical Evidence in Characteristics Lists

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Title: Making a List Requires Checking It Twice: A Call for Empirical Evidence in Characteristics Lists
Language: English
Authors: Matthew C. Makel (ORCID 0000-0002-3837-0088)
Source: Gifted Child Quarterly. 2026 70(3):279-295.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Academically Gifted, Student Characteristics, Talent Identification, Incidence, Evidence, Web Sites, Information Sources, Misconceptions, Advocacy, Gifted Education
DOI: 10.1177/00169862251392934
ISSN: 0016-9862
1934-9041
Abstract: Countless characteristics lists have been made to describe gifted children. But what evidence exists to support them? If such lists are to be useful, they must be appropriately contextualized and grounded in empirical support. Lacking these, they cannot be useful and many existing lists are severely lacking in both of these things. In this article, I first provide background on characteristics lists and their uses. Second, I outline six limitations of current lists. Third, I introduce a formal nomenclature for determining what constitutes a characteristic of gifted students. Finally, I propose two possible paths forward. First, stop creating or using characteristics lists. Alternatively, if characteristics lists are to be created and consumed, they need to better align the field's actions with its aspirations. Without sufficient empirical support, characteristics lists will not help schools and can exacerbate both inequity and distrust in research. Calling something a characteristic is a privilege that must be empirically earned.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508566
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Making a List Requires Checking It Twice: A Call for Empirical Evidence in Characteristics Lists
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+C%2E+Makel%22">Matthew C. Makel</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3837-0088">0000-0002-3837-0088</externalLink>)
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Countless characteristics lists have been made to describe gifted children. But what evidence exists to support them? If such lists are to be useful, they must be appropriately contextualized and grounded in empirical support. Lacking these, they cannot be useful and many existing lists are severely lacking in both of these things. In this article, I first provide background on characteristics lists and their uses. Second, I outline six limitations of current lists. Third, I introduce a formal nomenclature for determining what constitutes a characteristic of gifted students. Finally, I propose two possible paths forward. First, stop creating or using characteristics lists. Alternatively, if characteristics lists are to be created and consumed, they need to better align the field's actions with its aspirations. Without sufficient empirical support, characteristics lists will not help schools and can exacerbate both inequity and distrust in research. Calling something a characteristic is a privilege that must be empirically earned.
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