The Effect of Cultural Factors and Gender on the Patterns of Overexcitabilities among Jordanian and Kuwaiti Gifted Students (Cross cultural study)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cultural factors and gender on the patterns over excitabilities (based on Dabrawski’s theory) among gifted students in both Jordan and Kuwait. To achieve that, a random sample consisting of (115) male and female gifted students in ninth grades in Jordan and Kuwait, (58) Jordanian male and female gifted students and (57) Kuwaiti male and female gifted students was selected. The researchers used the Over excitabilities Questionnaire-two (OEQII) which consists of (50) items, distributed among five basic dimensions: Psychomotor, Sensual, Imaginational, Intellectual, Emotional. The result showed that: there are statistically significant differences in the patterns of Overexcitabilities attributed to the variables of cultural factors and gender among the gifted students in each of Jordan and Kuwait, and there were no statistically significant differences in the interaction between the cultural factors and gender variables in the sample of the study. Based on the study results, the researchers recommend further cross-cultural studies in the field of creativity and gifted education for more comprehensive understanding to the effects of culture factors on the gifted potential and aptitudes, and including the concept of Overexcitabilities in the gifted identification process and in their education programs and counseling services.