A Longitudinal Study of the Educational Paths of High Achievers in Science

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This project has two goals: (1) to maintain and extend an existing database containing longitudinal information on large numbers of mathematically precocious youth; (2) to conduct several studies to identify characteristics of young students, particularly female students, that correlate strongly - and synergistically - with high achievement in mathematics and science in later years. The extension of the database will include the following new information: (1) After-college data on a particular early cohort; (2) After-high-school data on a younger cohort; (3) Follow-up of nonrespondents to earlier surveys; (4) Data on a new cohort of gifted students from culturally diverse backgrounds; (5) Data on a new cohort of average ability students to serve as controls for various studies; (6) Retrospective data on a high achieving graduate student cohort. The new studies will explore: (1) Factors relating to persistence in math/science career paths by mathematically talented females; (2) Factors that relate to females lowering their aspirations in science and/or mathematics; (3) Synergism among factors that cause high math achievers in high school to select careers in science and/or mathematics; (4) The impact of extracurricular activities on the math/ science achievements of precocious youth; (5) The impact of personality characteristics on the math/ science achievements of precocious youth; (6) The attitudes of mathematically gifted students toward mathematics and science.