Effects of Gifted Labels and Competency Factors on Regular Class Students’ Estimates of the Academic and Social Competence of a Male Student

Abstract

ADOLESCENT MALE and female students from two high schools were asked to rate the academic and social characteristics of a male peer from an adjacent school district. The peer had previously been videotaped in two target roles, once playing the part of a highly competent student and once playing the role of an average ability student. In addition, half the students were told the target was gifted, the other half were told he was average. Students were asked to judge the academic potential, social attributes and personal attractiveness of the target. The dominant effect was observed under the highly competent role condition. The students judged the target who performed the competent role as likely to be more successful in academic subjects, more socially acceptable and a better leader than the less competent peer. Students rated the target labelled gifted as having higher skills in academic subjects than the target labelled average, but the labels did not affect perceptions of social attributes or personal ...