RT - Journal Article T1 - The Effectiveness of Group Reality Therapy on Irrational Beliefs, Psychological Hardiness, and Academic Achievement of Students with Exceptional Talents JF - Research-Institute-for-Education YR - 2019 JO - Research-Institute-for-Education VO - 19 IS - 1 UR - http://joec.ir/article-1-869-en.html SP - 95 EP - 108 K1 - Group reality therapy K1 - irrational beliefs K1 - psychological hardiness K1 - academic achievement K1 - students with exceptional talents AB - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of group reality therapy on irrational beliefs, psychological hardiness, and academic achievement of students with exceptional talents. Method: This study employed an experimental, pretest-post-test design with a control group and six-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of all secondary-school students with exceptional talents in Shahr-e Kord in 2017. To conduct the research, 40 students with exceptional talents were selected via random sampling and assigned to the experimental and control groups. Before the intervention, students completed the Jones’ Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT) and Kobasa's (1990) Psychological Hardiness Scale, and their grades were also recorded. In the next stage, eight sessions of reality group therapy were provided for the experimental group, while the control group did not receive any intervention. At the end of the intervention, the questionnaires were completed again in posttest and follow-up stages. Data were analyzed through covariance analysis. Results: The results indicated that reality group therapy was effective in reducing irrational beliefs and increasing the psychological hardiness and academic achievement of students with exceptional talents (p<0.05). This effect persisted on the six-month follow-up. Conclusion: Group reality therapy can be used as a suitable method for improving the psychological and educational status of secondary-school students with exceptional talents. LA eng UL http://joec.ir/article-1-869-en.html M3 ER -