Comparison of the Perceptions of the GiftedTalented Students and Normally Developing Students Concerning Plants Through Metaphors

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to compare the perceptions of the gifted and talented (GAT) students and normally developing (ND) students concerning plants through metaphors. The phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative research designs, was used in this study. The research group was comprised of 136 GAT students from the Science and Art Centers (BİLSEM) in two different cities in the Marmara region and 136 ND students studying at a secondary school in the Marmara region in the fall semester of the 2015-2016 academic year. The research group was selected through convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the sentence "The plants are like / similar to .......; because ........." that was completed by the participant students. The data were analyzed through the content analysis and the Chi-Square test methods. As the conclusion of the research study, it was determined that both the GAT and the ND students mostly emphasized metaphors such as life/living, life source, water, oxygen, and oxygen source, etc., generally forming a benefit-oriented perception concerning plants. Moreover, it was observed that both student groups particularly emphasized the "Plant analogous to the human" category and that their perceptions concerning plants were shaped as anthropocentrically and in a self centered way. In addition to these, it was determined that giftedness and talentedness had no influence on the perceptions of the students concerning plants. However, it was determined that the ND students emphasized the "Plant, as the source of peace and happiness" category more, while the GAT students were emphasizing the "Plant structure" category more. As the conclusion, it was observed that there was not a significant difference between the perceptions of the GAT and ND students concerning plants.