In order to collect a thesaurus of gifted descriptors and to develop variables and item clusters appropriate for use in impact research, 847 people (404 elementary and 242 secondary school students identified as gifted, 91 elementary and 62 secondary teachers of the gifted, and 73 parents of gifted children) were interviewed. The three major findings when the descriptors were analyzed by group were (1) gifted learners tend to define giftedness academically, (2) gifted learners tend not to agree with adults relative to descriptors of giftedness, and (3) individuals associated with gifted education appear to find it difficult to perceive the field within efficacy measurement terms. (Author/PHR)