Analysis of üyükep model, that is suggested for development of giftedness in science field, with respect to the structural equality model

Gifted individuals are the ones who have the capacity and thelevel to play important roles in the development and progress of the society. Therefore, the education of these individuals has the utmost significance for the development of the country. In this work, we aim to test and evaluate the ÜYÜKEP model, which is implemented to improve the giftedness in science field, with Structural Equality Model. Experimental evaluation of this model, that can have substantial contribution to the education of the gifted young scientists in our country, is performed. Due to aiming the modelling of the different characteristics of the students who study in Science and Art Centers, the research is descriptive and adapts the survey model as the pattern. The variables which determine the characteristics of the gifted students such as the ability of self-regulation while studying science, the ability of scientific research and process, history of science and philosophy knowledge, thinking ability and scientific creativity are observable. Therefore, within this study, we chose to use the path analysis with observable variables. The study group of this research consists of 60 female and 42 male gifted students who were attending the 6., 7. and 8. grades in the Science and Art Centers of Diyarbakir and Manisa during the education periods of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. We have used 'Scientific Creativity Test', 'Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Scale', 'Problem Solving Inventory for Kids', 'Scientific Process Ability Test', 'Critical Thinking and Evaluating Rubric' and 'Scale of Self-Regulation Ability While Learning Science' while collecting the quantitative data. In order to analyze the collected data, we have used the Structural Equality Model. Based on the analysis, we have concluded that the ÜYÜKEP model is a compatible model with the Structural Equality Model with respect to the conditions specified in the literature regarding the Confirmative Factor Analysis (CFA). We have detected that the standardized regression weights of the variables in the model are meaningful (p < .05). The results are promising for the ÜYÜKEP model to be used in the other research studies as it is compatible with the Structural Equality Model.