The Effects of Mind Games on Higher Level Thinking Skills in Gifted Students

Abstract

The aim of this research is to demonstrate the effect of various mind games, played by students identified as gifted in the elementary school age, on their analytical thinking, critical thinking and decision making skills. To fulfill this aim, the research made use of experimental research pattern and used single group, pre/post-test experimental pattern, which counts among weak experimental patterns. The study group of the research consists of 22 students in a private school located in Cankaya, Ankara in the academic year of 2016-2017. While the inclusion of the private school to the research involved the usage of the convenience sampling method, the inclusion of the gifted students to the research was done through purposive sampling methodology. In this research, various tests: “ACD test” and “Kakuro test” for gifted students were prepared by researchers and used in the research to measure high-level thinking skills of gifted students. In the process, various games: “Rat a Tat Cat” and “Sleeping Queens” were played and effects of these games on students' analytical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making skills were examined. Research outcomes demonstrated improvement in the analytical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making skills of the gifted students as a result of the various mind games they played.