Social comparison : its role in the big-fish-little-pond effect

The promotion of a positive academic self-concept is an important educational goal. However research has shown that, in academically selective settings, students have lower academic self-concepts than those students of equal aptitude who are educated in non-selective settings. These results, known as the 'big-fish-little-pond-effect' (BFLPE) have been explained in social comparison terms: Intelligent students who only have other intelligent students with whom to compare (as in an academically selective school) will regard themselves as less intelligent than equally intelligent students who can compare themselves with less intelligent students (as in a non-selective school). Most BFLPE studies have been conducted with school students, but the present study, examined the extent of the BFLPE for university students enrolled in two 4th year psychology courses, one of which was highly academically selective. Social comparison processes underlying this effect were investigated. No support was found for the BFLPE, and the inclusion of social comparison variables did not alter this result. Possible causes for these findings were discussed.