Poster #65 - Social Ties at School as Moderators of Big Fish Little Pond Effect

• In Event: 75.043 - MTCC Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: 75.043-9 - Learning and Motivational Dynamics in Social and Cultural Contexts

Abstract

Students’ academic self-concepts (ASCs) are largely formed by social comparison. The Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect (BFLPE), according to which equally able students have lower ASCs in high-achieving classrooms than in low-achieving ones, is extremely robust. This study aims at analyzing social relationships as potential moderators of the BFLPE, focusing on two core partners in classrooms: peers and teachers. Multilevel structural equation modeling was applied, drawing on data from a sample of N=7,004 secondary school students. Whereas no support was found for a moderating effect of peer relationships, data supported the assumed moderation of the BFLPE through student-teacher relationships. Students with positive teacher relations experienced smaller BFLPEs than students with negative or average teacher relations.

Authors

• Franziska Schwabe, Technical University of Dortmund

• Roxanne Korthals, Maastricht University

• Trudie Schils, Maastricht University