Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

The survey suggests that Russians consider gifted both those children who persistently develop their skills and those who have unique features and talents by birth.

MOSCOW, January 17, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to who can be considered gifted children, as Russians view it, and how teachers and educators should treat gifted children.

For the time being, Russians are divided in their opinions on what children should be treated gifted: 41% of respondents state that children are gifted if they have unique traits and talents by birth; 38% say that children can be called gifted if parents and teachers were persistently developing their skills. Every tenth respondent (12%) believes that gifted children are those who were lucky enough to get their skills noticed by other people.  

When communicating with the peers, gifted children are more likely to experience difficulties, according to 41% of Russians, although 45% consider that they experience the same difficulties as other children (60% among the 18-24-year-olds). Fifty-one percent of Russians say that gifted children have the same difficulties when they communicate with the adults as other children (60% among the 18-24-year-olds and 25-34-yer-olds, each). Every fourth (23%) says that gifted children have fewer problems with adults; every fifth (20%) says they have more problems.

Russians overwhelmingly think that classroom teachers, coaches and educators should treat gifted children in the same way as they treat other children (64%). One-third of respondents (33%) think that teachers should pay more attention to these children.

According to 52% of respondents, in modern Russia gifted children become ordinary adults, and their talent rarely manifest itself in adulthood; 61% of young Russians (aged 18-24) think so. They are opposed by 29% of respondents. 

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 14, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

In your opinion, who can be called gifted children? (closed-ended question, one answer % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Those children with unique features, talents by birth

41

Those children who underwent through intense, purposeful  training  by teachers and parents to improve their skills

38

Those children who were lucky enough, their skills got noticed by people

12

Other  

4

Don’t know

5

Some children experience difficulties communicating with other children due to different interests, education and character. In your opinion, do the gifted children have more/fewer difficulties communicating with the peers compared to other children? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

More difficulties

41

32

39

40

41

46

Fewer difficulties

8

7

7

5

9

13

The same

45

60

51

49

45

34

Don’t know

6

1

3

6

5

7

Some children experience difficulties communicating with adults due to different interests, education and character. In your opinion, do the gifted children have more/fewer difficulties communicating with adults compared to other children? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

More difficulties

20

24

17

14

20

25

Fewer difficulties

23

16

20

22

23

27

The same

51

60

60

58

50

39

Don’t know

6

0

3

6

7

9

In your opinion, should teachers/trainers/educators pay more attention to the gifted children or treat them in the same way as other children? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

They should pay more attention to them

33

They should treat them in the same way

64

Don’t know

3

Which of the following statements do you agree with the most?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Aged 18-24

Aged 25-34

Aged 35-44

Aged 45-59

Aged 60 and over

In modern Russia gifted children grow into gifted adults; their talents manifest themselves and develop  

29

29

28

28

32

29

In modern Russia gifted children become ordinary  adults as time goes by; their talents do not manifest themselves much in their adult life

52

61

60

52

51

45

Don’t know

19

10

12

20

17

26

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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