Measuring mathematical aptitude in exploratory computer environments

Abstract

Mathematical aptitude may be considered a special trait which is present in varying degrees in academically gifted students. The ability to think in the abstract seems to be one of the most important characteristics of the mathematical gifted. To be truly gifted in mathematics, however, creative ability is abo required. In a recent study of gifted tenth graders, mathematical creativity appeared to be a special kind of creativity not necessarily related to divergent thinking ability. In this article, measures of abstract thinking preference and divergent thinking are compared to standard mathematics ability measures such as the SAT‐M.