Dimensional comparisons:: An experimental approach to the internal/external frame of reference model

According to the internal/external frame of reference model (H. W. Marsh, 1986, 1990a), students not only use social comparisons to evaluate their performance (external frame of reference) but they also use dimensional comparisons (internal frame of reference), comparing their own achievement in one subject with that in other subjects. Three experimental studies were conducted to investigate the psychological processes underlying the effects of achievement in one domain on self-perceived competence in another. In Study 1 (N = 36), high achievement in one domain led to lower self-perceived competence in the other domain. Study 2 (N = 45) showed inverse effects on self-perceived competence when achievement feedback included explicit dimensional comparison information about students' achievement in both tasks. In Study 3 (N = 90), dimensional comparison effects were shown even when additional social comparison information was presented.