SELF-CONCEPT IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONSTRUCT that refers to

ABSTRACT. Using data from different countries, the author conducted an interna-tional investigation of the relationship between mean country mathematics and sci-ence self-concept and respective mean country achievement and geographic region. In addition, the relationship between self-concept and gender and age was compared for the different countries. Findings showed, at the student level, an overall positive relationship between achievement and self-concept in the countries investigated. However, at the country level, a negative relationship was found. Overall, there was a gender gap in favor of males and a developmental gap suggesting that mathemat-ics and science self-concept decline as students grow older. Implications for mathe-matics and science education are discussed