Can Psychological Questionnaires Predict the Academic Talent during Higher Education Studies?

Abstract

The space between secondary-school gifted education and starting one’s academic career is what is termed higher education talent management in this context. The “talent management”, in the aspect of the Hungarian higher education, refers to academically talented students, who prepare to the scientific career. So, the talent management in higher education can be imagined as a bridge between formal school studies and scientific career. In this research, I investigated empirically, with psychological questionnaires and other indicators what features and personality-traits contribute to academic/scientific success (number of scientific activities). 144 talented students were recruited to this research; all of them participated in a talent program or conception. The 5-page test pack included mainly professional psychological tests. The data was analyzed with linear regression statistical method, where the dependent variable was an index calculated from the students’ scientific activities. The regression model has been significant (F=3,453; df=128; p<0,05), but owing to the weak R-square value (0,226), the results are not suitable to the practical adaptation and talent identification.