Formation of Academic Self-Concepts: Does Perceived Similarity of School Subjects Play a Role?

• In Event: 75.062 - Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: 75.062-2 - Motivational and Cognitive Processes: Self-Regulation, Emotions, and Memory

Abstract

Path analytic studies in academic self-concept research show positive effects from mathematics or German achievement to corresponding self-concept and negative paths from subject-specific achievement to self-concept in the other subject. These are interpreted as contrastive effects of dimensional comparisons, defined as intraindividual comparisons, in which a person compares his achievement in one domain with his achievement in another domain. Drawing on a sample of N = 394 students, the present study analyzes whether these contrast effects can be influenced by influencing perceived similarity of the subjects before carrying out a dimensional comparison. Results show that an induced higher similarity leads to a minor contrast effect of dimensional comparisons than a minor similarity of the subjects.

Authors

• Friederike Helm, University of Kiel

• Hanno Müller-Kalthoff, University of Kiel

• Jens Moeller, University of Kiel