Underachiever Studies of Gifted and Talented Students: Types and Implications

Abstract

This study aims to examine the existence of low-performance issues or underachievers (UA) among gifted and talented students. Specifically, the study identified the type of UA that dominates in the sample group studied. This survey involved 63 students from GENIUS@Pintar Negara College, UKM answering the UA instrument built by the researcher. The value of the UA instrument's reliability correlation coefficient for all 60 items is ᾳ=0.87. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS software and ANNOVA inferential statistics to answer the research questions. The results show that the overall value of low-performing students at Kolej GENIUS@Pintar Negara is moderate (mean = 3.22, SP = 0.126). From the six types of UA, it was found that the category of low-performing intelligent students, Type 6, Autonomous UA Students, obtained the highest mean, followed by Type 3, Underground UA, and Type 5, Twice-Multiple Exceptional. There is no significant difference among UA students regarding gender, race, and level. The findings of this study give implications about the importance of providing a comprehensive intervention program for gifted UA students by involving several roles including UA students, academic management, counselling management, and parents to empower the development of gifted UA students' talents to an optimal level.