The Major Characteristics and Trends of Gifted Education Doctoral Dissertation Research From 2006 Through 2016

This study features a content analysis of gifted education doctoral dissertation studies from 2006 through 2016 ( n = 683) to identify the characteristics and shifts of the field. The major topics of the studies were categorized into the National Association for Gifted Children’s 16 networks and compared with the future directions suggested by the State of the States in Gifted Education report to locate the gaps between research and practical needs. The findings of this study not only outline gifted education’s significant features and trends but also provide an understanding of the evolving nature and insights of the field such as research methods, data sources, study participants, and journal publication rates.