Skip to main content
Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/1010-0652.19.3.119

Abstract: In its simplest form, the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) predicts that equally able students have lower academic self-concepts when attending schools where the average ability levels of classmates is high, and higher academic self-concepts when attending schools where the school-average ability is low. In this article, I summarize theoretical, empirical, and policy-related implications of the BFLPE.


Der “Big-Fish-Little-Pond”-Effekt und das akademische Selbstkonzept

Zusammenfassung: In seiner einfachsten Version besagt der “Big-Fish-Little-Pond”-Effekt (BFLPE), dass vergleichbar begabte Schüler ein geringer ausgeprägtes Selbstkonzept entwickeln, wenn sie eine Schule für besser Begabte besuchen, und dass sie ein höher ausgeprägtes Selbstkonzept ausbilden, wenn sie eine Schule mit geringem Begabungsniveau besuchen. In diesem Beitrag fasse ich die einschlägigen theoretischen, empirischen und bildungspolitischen Implikationen des BFLPE zusammen.

References

  • Covington, M.V. (2001). Goal theory, motivation, and school achievement: An integrative review. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 171– 200 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Dai, D.Y. (2004). How universal is the big-fish-little-pond effect?. American Psychologist, 59, 267– 268 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Diener, E. , Fujita, F. (1997). Social comparison and subjective well-being. In B.P. Buunk & F.X. Gibbons (Eds.), Health, coping, and well-being: Perspectives from social comparison theory (pp. 329-358). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • James, W. (1981). The principles of psychology . MA: Harvard University Press. Originally published in 1980 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. (1984). Self-concept: The application of a frame of reference model to explain paradoxical results. Australian Journal of Education, 28, 165– 181 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. (1987). The big-fish-little-pond effect on academic self-concept. Journal of Educational Psychology, 79, 280– 295 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. (1991). The failure of high ability high schools to deliver academic benefits: The importance of academic self-concept and educational aspirations. American Educational Research Journal, 28, 445– 480 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. (1993). Academic self-concept: Theory, measurement and research. In J. Suls (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on the self (Vol. 4, pp. 59-98). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Byrne, B.M. , Yeung, A.S. (1999). Causal ordering of academic self-concept and achievement: Reanalysis of a pioneering study and revised recommendations. Educational Psychologist, 34, 155– 167 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Chessor, D. , Craven, R.G. , Roche, L. (1995). The effects of gifted and talented programs on academic self-concept: The big fish strikes again. American Educational Research Journal, 32, 285– 319 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Craven, R. (2002). The pivotal role of frames of reference in academic self-concept formation: The big fish little pond effect. In F. Pajares & T. Urdan (Eds.), Adolescence and education (Vol. II, pp. 83-123). Greenwich, CT: Information Age First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Hau, K. (2003). Big-fish-little-pond effect on academic self-concept: A cross-cultural (26-country) test of the negative effects of academically selective schools. American Psychologist, 58, 364– 376 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Hau, K. , Craven, R. (2004). The big-fish-little-pond effect stands up to scrutiny. American Psychologist, 59, 269– 271 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Köller, O. , Baumert, J. (2001). Reunification of East and West German school systems: Longitudinal multilevel modeling study of the big fish little pond effect on academic self-concept. American Educational Research Journal, 38, 321– 350 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Kong, C.-K. , Hau, K.-T. (2000). Longitudinal multilevel modeling of the big fish little pond effect on academic self-concept: Counterbalancing social comparison and reflected glory effects in Hong Kong high schools. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 337– 349 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Parker, J. (1984). Determinants of student self-concept: Is it better to be a relatively large fish in a small pond even if you don't learn to swim as well?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 213– 231 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Peart, N. (1988). Competitive and cooperative physical fitness training programs for girls: Effects on physical fitness and on multidimensional self-concepts. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10, 390– 407 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H.W. , Rowe, K.J. (1996). The negative effects of school-average ability on academic self-concept - an application of multilevel modelling. Australian Journal of Education, 40, 65– 87 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Plucker, J.A. , Robinson, N.M. , Greenspon, T.S. , Feldhusen, J.F. , McCoach, D.B. , Subotnik, R.F. (2004). It's not how the pond makes you feel, but rather how high you can jump. American Psychologist, 59, 268– 269 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Rheinberg, F. , Enstrup, B. (1977). Selbstkonzept der Begabung bei normalen und Sonderschülern gleicher Intelligenz: Ein Bezugsgruppeneffekt. Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 9, 171– 180 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Robinson, N.M. , Zigler, E. , Gallagher, J.J. (2000). Two tails of the normal curve: Similarities and differences in the study of mental retardation and giftedness. American Psychologist, 55, 1413– 1424 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Seligman, M.E.P. , Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5– 14 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Segall, M.H. , Lonner, W.J. , Berry, J.W. (1998). Cross-cultural psychology as a scholarly discipline: On the flowering of culture in behavioral research. American Psychologist, 53, 1101– 1110 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Schwarzer, R. , Lange, B. , Jerusalem, M. (1982). Selbstkonzeptentwicklung nach einem Bezugsgruppenwechsel. Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 14, 125– 140 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tracey, D.K. , Marsh, H.W. , Craven, R.G. (2003). Self-concepts of preadolescent students with mild intellectual disabilities: Issues of measurement and educational placement. In H.W. Marsh, R.G. Craven, & D.M. McInerney (Eds.), International advances in self research (Vol. 1, pp. 203-230). Greenwich, CT: Information Age First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Valentine, J.C. , DuBois, D.L. , Cooper, H. (2004). The relations between self-beliefs and academic achievement: A systematic review. Educational Psychologist, 39, 111– 133 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Zeidner, M. , Schleyer, E.J. (1999). The big-fish-little-pond effect for academic self-concept, test anxiety and school grades in gifted children. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 24, 305– 329 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar