This article addresses the cross-cultural generalization of the pentagonal implicit theory of giftedness (Sternberg & Zhang, 1995) as well as differential expectations regarding excellence for girls versus boys. First, we used an instrument based on the pentagonal theory with a sample of in-service and pre-service teachers at the University of Hong Kong. Second, we administered a questionnaire designed to assess conceptions of “excellence,” one of the attributes for giftedness described in the pentagonal model, to a different sample of in-service and pre-service teachers at the same university. We found a good fit of the pentagonal model to the data collected, paralleling results obtained in the U.S. We also found, however, that in Hong Kong, however, unlike in the U.S., participants had higher expectations of excellence for boys than for girls. These outcomes have implications for identification, instruction, and programming for the gifted.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02783199809553949]

This paper describes the development of an improved scale for measuring sentiments, attitudes and concerns about inclusive education in pre-service teachers based on an examination of data gathered from 996 pre-service teachers from five tertiary institutions using a modified version of the Interactions with People with Disabilities scale (Forlin, Jobling & Carroll, 2001; Gething, 1991, 1994), the Concerns about Inclusive Education Scale (Sharma & Desai, 2002), and the Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale (Wilczenski, 1992, 1995). Based on the results of principal component analyses, conceptual judgments made by the research team, and a critique of content and format from an "expert group", a new scale, the Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education scale (SACIE), is developed. The rationale behind the development of the scale is discussed.
[Copyright of International Journal of Special Education is the property of Hindawi Publishing Corporation.
Access via Directory of Open Access Journals: http://www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com/]

Positive and negative perfectionism as well as four goal orientations were assessed in a sample of 315 Chinese gifted students in Hong Kong. These students tended to endorse positive perfectionism more than negative perfectionism and prefer learning and social goals over performance and avoidance goals. Learning and social goal orientations emerged as significant predictors in the prediction of positive perfectionism, whereas performance and avoidance goal orientations emerged as significant predictors for negative perfectionism. Implications of the findings for promoting healthy strivings for excellence through setting different goals are discussed.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02783190802527331]

In the field of specific learning difficulties research, interest has recently turned to affective and motivational issues as possible causal or exacerbating factors. In particular, studies have suggested that students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) have diminished perceptions of their own capabilities as a result of persistent and frequent failure. Weakened beliefs in self-efficacy predispose the students to further poor outcomes through reduced confidence and effort. This study explores the perceptions of self-efficacy in both academic and non-academic domains revealed by Chinese primary-age students with learning difficulties. Data were collected by questionnaire (the Academic and Non-academic Self-efficacy Scale: ANASS) from 34 students identified with SpLD (individually interviewed; oral administration), and 167 students without learning problems (group administration; written form). Results indicate that the SpLD students had significantly weaker beliefs in their own efficacy in the academic learning domain, compared to the students making normal progress. The differences were most marked in their learning of both English and Chinese language skills. There was no difference between the two groups in self-efficacy related to the non-academic domain. An important finding in the study is that Chinese children with SpLD appear to have more positive beliefs in their self-efficacy than is implied for their counterparts in studies in other cultures. These findings are discussed in this paper, together with brief suggestions for practical implications and possible further research.
[Copyright of International Journal of Special Education is the property of Hindawi Publishing Corporation.
Access via Directory of Open Access Journals: http://www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com/]

Addressing the needs of students with learning difficulties in the mainstream English classroom in Hong Kong is a major challenge for a range of reasons, including a lack of research into the topic. This narrative suggests that such students are likely to be experiencing difficulty in a number of subject areas, and that a collaborative approach is an effective way of designing strategies to help them. This narrative further reports on an action research project, which has begun the task of developing strategies to meet the needs of this group of students and their teachers.
[Copyright of English Teaching: Practice & Critique is the property of Universidad del Zulia.
Access via Directory of Open Access Journals: http://edlinked.soe.waikato.ac.nz/research/journal/index.php?id=1]

This study assessed the profiles of eight intelligences of 133 gifted students from five perspectives based on their self-ratings and ratings by their mothers, fathers, teachers, and peers. Across different perspectives, logical-mathematical intelligence received the highest ratings whereas bodily-kinesthetic and naturalist intelligences received the lowest ratings. Based on the three profile similarity indices, elevation, scatter, and shape computed to describe each of the typical profiles of students, mothers, fathers, teachers, and peers, it was suggested that the mother perspective and the father perspective were more similar than those of teachers and peers. In addition, the indices also suggested the interpretation that mothers tended to be more sensitive to students' multiple intelligences than fathers, teachers, and peers. Students' perceived creativity and leadership were more predictable using the multiple intelligences from the student perspective. The implications of respecting multiple perspectives on students' multiple intelligences for helping to meet the needs of gifted students are discussed.
[Copyright of Roeper Review is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02783190409554284]