Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore the behavioral characteristics of superior students. A related purpose was to explore the grade and gender differences in the behavioral characteristics. The sample of the study consisted of 672 Omani students (grade levels from 5 to 10) from different regions in Oman. A translated version of the Renzulli's Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS-III) was applied. The results indicated that the highest three behavioral characteristics were: Leadership, Reading, Motivation, while the lowest were: Expressiveness, Dramatics, and Musical. Furthermore, significant gender and grade level differences were found. While girls were higher in six behavioral characteristics (Leadership, Dramatics, Motivation, Artistic, Precision, and Planning), grade levels 9 and 10 were superior in Planning, Learning, Precision, Expressiveness, Mathematics, Musical, Motivation, Technology, Leadership, Creativity, Science, and Reading. In addition, the interaction between gender and grade level was significant in four behavioral characteristics (Learning, Reading, Technology, and Dramatics).