A1 Journal article (refereed)
Classroom effect on primary school students’ self-concept in literacy and mathematics (2020)

Vasalampi, K., Pakarinen, E., Torppa, M., Viljaranta, J., Lerkkanen, M.-K., & Poikkeus, A.-M. (2020). Classroom effect on primary school students’ self-concept in literacy and mathematics. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 35(3), 625-646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-019-00439-3

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Vasalampi, Kati; Pakarinen, Eija; Torppa, Minna; Viljaranta, Jaana; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina; Poikkeus, Anna-Maija

Journal or series: European Journal of Psychology of Education

ISSN: 0256-2928

eISSN: 1878-5174

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 35

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 625-646

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-019-00439-3

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/66550

Abstract

According to the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLP) model, high individual academic performance in a particular subject is related to high self-concept in that subject, whereas high average classroom performance has a negative effect on self-concept. In the present study, data from Finnish primary school students in grade 3 (504 students), grade 4 (487 students), and grade 6 (365 students) are used to examine whether the assumptions of the BFLP effect model hold already in primary school. Furthermore, we examined gender differences in BFLP effect. The results showed that as expected students’ high performance in literacy and in mathematics was related to high self-concept in the same subject. Support for the negative classroom effect was small and it depended on the school subject and student’s gender. That is, a high average classroom performance already in grade 3 had a negative but small effect on boys’ self-concept in mathematics. In literacy and among girls, only little support was found for the negative classroom effect.

Keywords: teaching premises; self image; performance (coping); capability; literacy; mathematics; lower comprehensive school; lower comprehensive school pupils; interaction

Free keywords: big-fish-little-pond effect; classroom effect; self-concept of ability; academic skills; primary school

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1