The Internal/External Frame of Reference Model, Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect, and Combined Model for Mathematics and Science.

The aim of this study was to integrate 2 theories on academic self-concept--that is, the internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model and the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE)--into a combined model. The rationale for the combined model is that the I/E model actually focuses on internal/dimensional comparison (e.g., a comparison between one's own mathematics and science achievements) and the BFLPE focuses on external/social comparison (e.g., a comparison between one's own mathematics achievement and one's schoolmates'). The I/E, BFLPE, and combined models for mathematics and science were examined using multilevel analyses of 139,174 students in 4,231 schools in 27 countries. The results showed that the I/E model and the BFLPE fitted data well, and the combined model fitted data even better. The I/E model remained unchanged when the BFLPE was combined, suggesting distinctly differential roles of internal and external comparisons in constructing academic self-concepts. In addition, the combined model was examined for each country. The findings revealed that the predictions of the combined model were generally supported for data from most countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]