3.8.1 On Identifying as a Gifted Adult: An International Focus Group Study

This new, multinational, exploratory research consists of five online focus groups with adults who self-identify as being gifted. The overall purpose of this research is to contribute the voice of gifted adults to key conversations emerging within the study of that population, including how these adults experience their giftedness and what they believe needs to be better understood. The study contributes rich and valuable information to the research field by exploring the phenomenon of giftedness from the perspective of adults who live it. The researcher will present key preliminary findings that will be of interest to counselors, parents, gifted adults, and educators.

Author(s):

Maggie Brown
maggie.brown@auckland.ac.nz
University of Auckland
New Zealand

Maggie Brown has over 30 years of experience working with neuro-atypical people of all ages. As a counselor and therapist in private practise, Maggie encountered the problem of misdiagnosis of gifted adults. This interest led her to design and conduct an international, multi-disciplnary research project looking at how we can build knowledge about gifted adults. Included in this project are five multinational focus groups with gifted adults. Preliminary findings from these qualitative studies add to our understanding of the lived experience of giftedness beyond school, and outside of eminence.