Recent handbooks of giftedness or expertise propose a plethora of conceptions on the development of excellent performance but, to our knowledge, there are no comparative studies that provide empirical evidence of their validity to guide researchers and practitioners in their adoption of a particular conception. This study sought to close that gap…

The argument presented concludes that unless needs for attention are satiated, the failure set reversed, and dysfunctional problem-solving approaches altered, the probability of academic success is low regardless of the administrative arrangement in which that child's education is provided. (Author)