Earning Its Place as a Pan-Human Theory: Universality of the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect Across 41 Culturally and Economically Diverse Countries

Journal article

Abstract:: For more than 2 decades, big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) research has demonstrated that students in high-ability classes and schools have lower academic self-concepts than their equally able counterparts in mixed-ability schools. However, cross-cultural BFLPE research has been limited to mostly developed and individualist countries. Using the Program for International Student Assessment database (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2005a, 2005b), the present investigation assessed the BFLPE in 41 culturally and economically diverse countries. In support of the BFLPE, the effect of school-average self-concept was negative for the total sample (effect size = -.49), negative for each of the 41 countries considered separately, and statistically significant in 38 countries. In this large, culturally diverse sample of countries, the BFLPE was evident in both collectivist and individualist cultures and in economically developing and developed nations. Implications for BFLPE theory and educational practice are discussed. © 2009 American Psychological Association.

Language:: English
Keywords:: big-fish-little-pond effect

cross-cultural research

academic achievement

academic ability
Pubs id:: pubs:103302
UUID:: uuid:d26efbfa-9801-48c1-9431-3a460f38821b
Local pid:: pubs:103302
Source identifiers:: 103302
Deposit date:: 2012-12-19
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_d26efbfa980148c194313a460f38821b

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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