The Characteristics of Analogies Generated by Science-Gifted Students Depending on the Consideration of Attributes and Relationships in the Processes of Generating Analogies

In this study, we examined the characteristics of analogies generated by science-gifted students depending on the consideration of attributes and relationships in the processes of generating analogies and investigated the applicability of analogy-generating activities in science-gifted education programs. The analyses of the results revealed that the analogy-generating processes of science-gifted students were categorized into three kinds of patterns depending on the consideration of attributes and relationships of the target concept and the source analog. There are also some differences in the types of analogies generated and selected to be good, and in the proper mapping numbers by the patterns depending on the consideration of attributes and relationships. Most science-gifted students used the analogy-generating activities to other target concept, and recognized them to be useful. However, they had difficulties in selecting source analogs at the processes of generating analogy. These obtained in this study will help to explore a potential use of the analogy-generating activities in an effective education program for fostering the creativity of science-gifted students.