Terman Life-Cycle Study of Children with High Ability, United States, 1922-1991

This study of the personal and life characteristics of children with high ability follows the 1,528 respondents from 1922 through the latest series of interviews with the surviving cohort of 720 in 1986. The original research objectives were to replace myths about intellectually superior children with documented facts. In 1922, the children were identified on the basis of an intelligence test as being in the top one percent of the population. Their development was followed over the next sixty years via questionnaires, personal interviews, and various test instruments. Questions were asked about their health, physical and emotional development, school histories, recreational activities, home life, family background, educational, vocational, and marital histories. Questions were also asked about income, emotional stability, and socio-political attitudes. The follow-up questionnaires were concerned with the evolution of the respondents' careers, activity patterns, and personal adjustment. Since 1972 there has been special emphasis on the aging process. These longitudinal data will continue to be collected as long as living members of the original cohort contribute data.

本研究旨在探讨高能力儿童的个人及生活特征，追踪了自1922年以来1528名受访者的经历，直至1986年对720名存活者的最新一轮访谈。原始研究目标在于以确凿的事实替代关于智力超群儿童的种种神话。1922年，这些儿童基于智力测试被认定为人口中前百分之一。接下来六十年间，通过问卷调查、个人访谈及多种测试工具，对其发展进行了追踪。调查内容涉及他们的健康状况、身心发展、学业历史、休闲活动、家庭生活、家庭背景、教育、职业和婚姻历史。还询问了他们的收入、情绪稳定性以及社会政治态度。后续的问卷调查关注于受访者职业生涯、活动模式和个人适应性的演变。自1972年起，特别关注了老龄化过程。只要原始队列的存活成员继续提供数据，这些纵向数据将持续收集。