A MODEL FOR CLARIFICATION AND EXPANSION OF CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS

Practitioners, researchers, and theorists can establish stronger ratio nale and direction for their work through better understanding of the conceptual foundations that influence the field of education of the gi fted. Navigation along three interpretive dimensions can clarify and e xpand these conceptual foundations, which currently suffer from fragme ntation and insularity. One of these dimensions invites movement throu gh several different world views Another dimension invites interdiscip linary movement from the precision of the ''hard'' sciences to the unc ertain complexity of the ''soft and human'' sciences. A third dimensio n promotes movement through different levels of analysis, ranging from panoramic levels of philosophical and theoretical perspectives to the grounded levels of empirical research and practical application. A th ree-dimensional model illustrates the dynamics of these movements whil e highlighting some barriers that cause fragmentation and insularity i n conceptual foundations. Recommendations for breaking through these b arriers are provided.