CONSERVATION OF WEIGHT WITH GIFTED

The relationship between giftedness and conservation of weight based on Piaget''s theory of intelligence was investigated. Gifted (56) and nongifted (72) children (ages 114-150 mo.) were tested on a series of tasks designed to measure conservation of weight. The gifted and non-gifted groups did not differ significantly with respect to age, sex (proportions of male and female Ss [subjects]), nor degree of conservation (gifted Ss conserved no more often than nongifted Ss). The gifted group was significantly higher in intelligence as measured by standard psychometric measures. The sex variable correlated significantly with conservation as result of the male Ss conserving more often than female Ss. The highest independent contribution to the total variance was also made by the sex variable. The results of this study were contrary to the results of similar studies comparing normal and mentally retarded children. The psychometric and Piagetian theories of intelligence as measured by the instruments used were not consistent across levels of intelligence. Two possible explanations were suggested.