R

Findings from the

2015 Australian Mensa
Gi9ed Children’s Survey

Presented by Alan D. Thompson
AAEGT Conference, Sydney, Australia
mensa.org.au/gi9edchildren/survey
IntroducCons

Australian Mensa
•  High IQ Society.
•  Accepts top 2% of tested IQ.

Alan D. Thompson
•  GiAed coach, Life Architect.
•  Coaching for bright families and high performers.

Karen King
•  Psychologist, Brainbox Psychology Clinic.
•  TesJng and counselling for bright families.
What is Mensa?

• Only one entry requirement: IQ in top 2%.

• Founded 1 October, 1946 by an Australian and an

Englishman.

• In LaJn means “table”; a coming together of equal

minds.

• Over 121,000 members, 50 naJonal groups.

What does Mensa do?

1.  To idenJfy and to foster human intelligence for the

benefit of humanity.

2.  To encourage research into the nature, characterisJcs,

and uses of intelligence.

3.  To provide a sCmulaCng intellectual and social

environment for its members.
On to the Survey!

• Note:
–  Self-selected sample.

–  Mensa officially “has no opinion”.

Overview of the Survey

QuesCons Designed with input from psychologists, counsellors,

and giAed experts.
Audience Parents of giAed children in top 2% (under 18)
anywhere in Australia (including regional).
Available to Australian Mensa members only.
Delivery Online survey, 50 quesJons.
Survey date Open from August 31 to September 30, 2015.
Sample 111 anonymous responses accepted.
Report date December 2015.
This Report Used in InsCtuCons…

Slovenia Australia USA

The Basics
CharacterisCc Categories %
Respondent Adult for Mensan child 73
Mensan adult for giAed child 18
Both 9
Boy or girl Boy 67
Girl 33
Age 0–4 2
5–9 59
10–14 27
15–17 8
18+ 5
Number of children in family 1 25
2 54
3 12
4 8
- 1
Handedness Right 86
LeA 10
Ambidextrous 4
Extraversion/introversion More extroverted 72
More introverted 28
Joining Age

•  Youngest (end 2015): 2 years and 10 months.

•  Average: 8 years and 2 months.
LocaCon of Members (per capita)

•  Some isolated states and territories: most members per capita.

•  NT now has members.
DifficulCes

28
14

•  Learning difficulJes (auditory, sensory, speech…): 28%

•  Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, ASD, SLD…): 14%
TesCng Instruments

•  Wechsler accounts for 64% of tests used for under 18s.

•  Mensa’s new tesJng allows 14yo+.
Schooling

•  85% regular schooling.

•  11% homeschooling (compared to naJonal ~0.2%).
Biggest Challenge in School

•  “Flexibility in providing resources for giAed students within the educaJon

environment”.
Grade-skipping

•  Increasing: 44% for 15-17 year olds.

•  51% for 5-9 year olds.
Career ConsideraCons

•  23% of children hadn’t considered this yet.

•  41% of Mensan children are considering a career in a STEM field.
Games

•  Lego (65% for those aged five to nine).

•  MinecraA (67% for 10-14 year olds).
Interests and CreaCve

•  Half are interested in Astronomy.

•  More than half play a musical instrument.
Top Challenges

•  “Tall poppy” quesJon advised by one of our psychologists.

•  Using full potenJal: 59% of respondents.
PotenCal vs Performance

•  In response to the quesJon “In general, is your child performing in line with
his or her capacity or potenJal?” only 50.4% of parents answered “yes”.
Future Focus Areas

•  EducaJon took the top three spots.

Read More Online…

• Quotes from parents.

• Years acJve (membership).
• Support services.
• Sports.
• AddiJonal spending.
• Improving Australian Mensa.
What’s Next for Australian Mensa?

• Run this comprehensive survey across the naJon (not just

Mensans) in 2017/2018. Include IQ.

• AppoinJng state GCCs; ongoing events in each state.

• Release of new “informaJon iniJaJve”.

–  AcceleraJon: Professor Miraca Gross.

–  IQ TesJng: Dr Gail Byrne.

• “Schools cooperaJng with Australian Mensa”.

 Alan D. Thompson
NaJonal GiAed Children’s Coordinator
Australian Mensa
gcc@mensa.org.au

h]p://mensa.org.au/gi9edchildren/survey