Designing and Standardizing a Talent Identification Program for Upper Elementary Students
Keywords:
design, standardization, talent identification, Maher Test, elementary studentsAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to design and standardize a talent identification program for upper elementary students to provide a valid and reliable native instrument for assessing students’ academic talents.
Methodology: This descriptive-correlational and psychometric study involved all students aged 10–12 years from public and private schools in District 6 of Tehran. A total of 400 students (200 girls and 200 boys) were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Maher Talent Assessment Test (Saadatee Shamir & Zahmatkesh, 2023). Content validity indices (CVI, CVR), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (Varimax method), Pearson correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability were applied for data analysis.
Findings: Exploratory factor analysis revealed nine underlying factors—environmental tools and facilities, fluid intelligence, personality competencies, attitude, interest and enthusiasm, motivation, abilities, skills, and valuable goals—explaining 42% of the total variance. Model fit indices confirmed the adequacy of the structure (CFI=0.98, RMSEA=0.07). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.96, with 0.91 for the total scale, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.85. Normative analysis across age groups (10–12 years) demonstrated acceptable consistency and discriminative power of the test.
Conclusion: The Maher Talent Assessment Test demonstrated satisfactory validity, reliability, and structural fit, making it a useful and standardized tool for identifying academic talents among upper elementary students.
Downloads
References
Al-Edenat, M. (2024). The Impact of Managerial Intelligence on Project success: the Moderating Role of Participative and Directive Leadership Styles in Public Corporations in Jordan. Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance Studies, 11(3), 8-23. https://hollexpub.org/J/index.php/6/article/view/938
Bakhtiari-Ramzani, G., Saheb-al-Zamani, M., & Niknamy, M. (2020). A Model for Discovering and Supporting Talents of Middle School Students in Underprivileged Areas (Case Study: Education in Districts of Tehran Province). Education in Police Sciences, 8(29), 241-260. https://www.iase-jrn.ir/index.php/se/article/view/303
Benedict, T. O. (2024). The kokoro in Japanese spiritual care. Review of General Psychology, 10892680241269280. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10892680241269280
Dalimoenthe, J. K. A., Annur, S., & Kanada, R. (2024). The Implementation of the Full Day School Program in Developing Students' Spiritual Intelligence. El-Idare: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 10(2), 65-72. https://doi.org/10.19109/elidare.v10i2.24675
Dang, H. L., Kwak, S., & Choi, S. (2023). Empirical filtering-based artificial intelligence learning diagnosis of series DC arc faults in time domains. Machines, 11(10), 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines11100968
Dehghan Tarzjani, M., & Banshi, A. (2017). Why Can't We Identify Talents in Iran? Third International Conference on Talent Management in the Third Millennium, https://civilica.com/doc/736358/
Eid Zidan Muhammad, J. (2023). The effectiveness of the counseling program in improving the social intelligence of a sample of children who are victims of bullying. Annals of the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University, 51(2), 251-277. https://aafu.journals.ekb.eg/article_295871.html?lang=en
Ershadi Chahardeh, S., Saadati Shamir, A., & Zabihi, R. (2024). The Effectiveness of Cognitive Empowerment Based on the Lumosity Program on Maher Crystallized Intelligence of Elementary School Boys. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 5(5), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijecs.5.5.16
Gouran Savadkoohi, L., Kamyab, M., & Saadati Shamir, A. (2023). The Effectiveness of Teaching Metacognitive Skills on Increasing Fluid Intelligence in Middle School Students. Journal of Sociology of Education, 9(1), 424-440. https://www.iase-jrn.ir/article_713252.html
Hosseini, S. S., Hamidi, M., Ghorbanian Rajabi, A., & Sajadi, S. N. (2013). Identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Talent Identification in Elite Sports of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Its Constraints and Challenges. Sports Management Journal, 17, 29-54. https://jsm.ut.ac.ir/article_32166.html
Houcan, Z., & Kan, Z. (2023). Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6000-2_5-1
Karimi Dastaki, A., & Mahmudi, M. (2024). The Effectiveness of Life Meaning Workshops on Resilience, Negative Affect, and Perceived Social Support in Students. Journal of Psychological Dynamics in Mood Disorders (PDMD), 3(1), 187-197. https://doi.org/10.22034/pdmd.2024.448984.1063
Key, M. N., & Szabo-Reed, A. N. (2023). Impact of diet and exercise interventions on cognition and brain health in older adults: A narrative review. Nutrients, 15(11), 2495. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112495
Khandani, F., Farakhi, N. A., & Saadati Shamir, A. (2023). Comparing the Effectiveness of Executive Function Training and Play Therapy on Learning Mathematical Concepts in Students with Learning Disabilities. Exceptional Students Quarterly, 23(3), 89-122. https://joec.ir/browse.php?a_id=1735&sid=1&slc_lang=en
Kovacs, K., & Pléh, C. (2023). William Stern: The Relevance of His Program of 'Differential Psychology'for Contemporary Intelligence Measurement and Research. Journal of Intelligence, 11(3), 41-62. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030041
Mascia, M. L., Langiu, G., Bonfiglio, N. S., Penna, M. P., & Cataudella, S. (2023). Challenges of preadolescence in the school context: A systematic review of protective/risk factors and intervention programmes. Education Sciences, 13(2), 130. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020130
Mir Arabshahi, S. M., Saadati Shamir, A., & Abou-Maali, K. (2022). Comparing the Talent Management Models for Gifted Students in the Educational Systems of Iran and Canada and Providing a Health-Based Talent Identification Model. Journal of Educational Talent Management, 7(5), 1-7. https://www.quraniimed.com/article_196521.html
Nazarian, M. R., Abadi, A., Mahdad, A., & Nadi, M. A. (2020). Teachers' Lived Experiences in Identifying Talents of Students Based on Dimensions and Components of Effective Teaching Models. New Educational Approaches, 15(2), 43-58. https://sid.ir/paper/1005837/fa
Noorad, S., Noveh Ibrahim, A., Arasteh, H. R., & Zeynabadi, H. R. (2017). Exploring, Ranking, and Providing a Model for Identifying Talented Managers of Private Schools in Tehran (Using a Mixed Method). Scientific-Research Journal of a New Approach in Educational Management, 8(3). https://journalieaa.ir/article-1-100-fa.html
Partovi Piro o z, L., Jomehri, F., Seadatee Shamir, A., & Hasani, J. (2022). Structural model of health anxiety based on intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety sensitivity with mediating the role of rumination in college students. Jayps, 3(2), 278-290. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jayps.3.2.21
Roghani, F., Shamir, A., Abdollahpour, A., & Hashemi, N. (2024). The effectiveness of the "Maher Fluid Intelligence Psycho-Educational Intervention Package" on cognitive-emotional regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychological Dynamics in Mood Disorders, 3(2), 189-202. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.pdmd.3.2.16
Rusche, M. M., & Ziegler, M. (2023). Measuring Domain-Specific Knowledge: From Bach to Fibonacci. Journal of Intelligence, 11(3), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030047
Saadati Shamir, A., & Mousavi Fazli, A. (2023). The Effectiveness of Teaching Perceptual Skills and Attention Skills on Reducing Attention Disorders in Students with Attention Disorders. Quarterly Journal of Medicine and Quran, 7(3), 181-196. https://sid.ir/paper/1116679/fa
Saadati Shamir, A., & Zahmatkesh, Y. (2022). Introducing a Tool: Construction and Standardization of the First Version of the Multidimensional Crystalized Intelligence Test (MMFIT) for Students Aged 7 to 9 Years. Health and Education in Early Student Life, 3(2), 57-84. https://jeche.ir/browse.php?a_id=85&sid=1&slc_lang=fa
Saadati Shamir, K., & Bita. (2024). Validation of the Multidimensional Talent Assessment Scale (MMTA) for Middle School Students. Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 5(2), 111-121. https://maherpub.com/jndd/article/view/359?articlesBySameAuthorPage=3
Seadatee Shamir, A., & Zainab Zahamatkesh, Y. (2022). Introducing a test: construction and standardization of the first version of Maher Multifunctional Fluid Intelligence Test (MMFIT) for children age 7 to 9 years old [Research]. Early Childhood Health And Education, 3(2), 57-84. http://jeche.ir/article-1-85-en.html
Yaqoubi, N. M., & Davoodi, S. A. (2018). A Framework for Talent Identification and Succession Planning in Higher Education. Journal of Human Resource Management Research, 10(1). https://sid.ir/paper/163134/fa
Zahmatkesh, Z., Hosseini Nasab, S. D., & Saadati Shamir, A. (2024). Investigating the Relationship between Working Memory and Intelligence with Academic Progress of Monolingual and Bilingual Female Students in Tehran High Schools. Education and Assessment (Educational Sciences), 8(32), 111-133. https://sid.ir/paper/183469/fa
Zelli, M. H., Seadatee Shamir, A., & Kazemi, A. (2025). The Effectiveness of the Maher Crystallized Intelligence Educational-Psychological Intervention on Enhancing Fluid Intelligence and Socio-Cultural Intelligence. Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal, 3(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.61838
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2025-11-30 (4)
- 2025-11-30 (3)
- 2025-11-24 (2)
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Masoumeh Moghimi Firouzabad, Gholam Ali Afrooz (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
