IDENTIFYING HISPANIC STUDENTS OF OUTSTANDING TALENT - PSYCHOMETRIC INTEGRITY OF A PEER NOMINATION FORM

Minority students are historically underrepresented in programs for gi fted students, and biased identification procedures are often suggeste d as a reason for this racial inequity. This study investigated the re liability and construct validity of a peer nomination form used to ide ntify Hispanic students of outstanding talent (originally designed by Anne Udall and modified by the researchers) with the cooperation of 67 0 students from three southwestern U.S. school districts. The reliabil ity of the instrument is generally sufficient to warrant its use in th e identification of gifted Hispanic students, and the validation proce ss highlights suggest ions for the instrument's appropriate use.