Educational and learning capital as predictors of general intelligence and scholastic achievements

Abstract

ABSTRACT The actiotope model of giftedness (AMG) highlights the interactions between the individual and the environment. Educational and learning capital (ELC) are essential resources that promote the development of excellence. The study objectives were to examine the contribution of educational capital (EC), learning capital (LC), and general intelligence (GI) to scholastic achievements (SA) of school age students, and to examine whether the effect of EC on GI and SA is mediated by LC. Two hundred, fifth grade, students completed GI and mathematical achievement tests. Teachers completed the teacher’s checklist for each student participant and students’ school grades in mathematics, science, language, and English were collected. Results demonstrated that GI, EC, and LC contributed, altogether, 80% to the prediction of SA, the contribution of LC being higher. Moreover, contribution of EC to SA was mediated by LC. The study corroborates the AMG by demonstrating that both the environment and the individual control the ability to reach excellence and giftedness. Abbrevations ELC = Educational and learning capital EC = Educational capital LC = Learning Capital G = general intelligence SA = scholastic achievements