Loading...
Dimensional Comparison Theory : Paradoxical relations between self-beliefs and achievements in multiple domains
Marsh, Herbert W. Lüdtke, Oliver Nagengast, Benjamin Trautwein, Ulrich Abduljabbar, Adel Salah Abdelfattah, Faisal Jansen, Malte
Marsh, Herbert W.
Lüdtke, Oliver
Nagengast, Benjamin
Trautwein, Ulrich
Abduljabbar, Adel Salah
Abdelfattah, Faisal
Jansen, Malte
Abstract
The internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model posits paradoxical relations between achievement and self-concept in mathematics and verbal domains, in which achievement in each domain has a positive effect on self-concept in the matching domain (e.g., mathematics achievement on mathematics self-concept) but a negative (contrastive) effect on self-concept in the non-matching domain (e.g., mathematics achievement on verbal self-concept). Extending the I/E model, Dimensional Comparison Theory (DCT) posits that self-evaluations are based on dimensional comparisons (e.g., how my accomplishments in one domain compare with my accomplishments in another domain) as well as the more traditional social and temporal comparisons, and on other sources of information about one's accomplishments. Extending the traditional tests of the I/E model, DCT predicts strong contrast effects only for contrasting domains that are at the opposite ends of the theoretical continuum of academic self-concept (far comparisons: e.g., the negative effect of math achievement on verbal self-concept), but much weaker negative contrast or even positive assimilation effects for complementary domains that are close to each other (near domains: e.g., positive effects of math achievement on physics self-concept; positive effects of native language on foreign language self-concept). Here we illustrate new predictions, theoretical insights, and methodology associated with DCT based on multiple academic domains (native language, foreign language, history, biology, physics and math), showing significant contrast effects for far comparisons and significantly less contrast or assimilation effects for near domains.
Keywords
assimilation and contrast effects, internal/external frame of reference effect, multilevel structural equation model, self-concept vs. self-efficacy, social and dimensional comparison processes
Date
2015
Type
Journal article
Journal
Learning and Instruction
Book
Volume
35
Issue
Page Range
16-32
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as green open access
License
File Access
Open
Controlled
Controlled
Notes
This record includes an accepted manuscript. © 2015. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/