Frame of reference effects following the announcement of exam results

The internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model by Marsh (e.g., 1990a) assumes two central information sources for the constitution of domain-spe cific academic self-concepts: (1) social comparisons (external frame of ref erence). in which students compare their own achievements with those of the ir classmates; and (2) intraindividual comparisons (internal frame of refer ence), in which students compare their own achievements in one subject with their achievements in other subjects. In path analyses, it has been found that the latter type of comparison leads to negative paths From achievement indicators in subject A to self-concept measures in subject B. To investig ate the actual impact of achievement feedback and of the frames of referenc e on changes in self-concept variables, we analyzed math and German self-co ncepts immediately following the announcement of exam results in each subje ct. Participants were 258 7th- to 9th-graders. Path analyses using structur al equation modeling supported the validity of the I/E model with respect t o the impact of simultaneously given current exam results. In particular, G erman achievement had a negative impact on subsequent math self-concept. (C ) 2001 Academic Press.