Changes in Self-concept Among High Ability and Average Ability Adolescents in the Transition to Secondary Education: Study Domain and Gender Effects

We found that high ability students, especially boys, experience a steeper decline than their peers in math self-concept in the transition to secondary school. This decline, which is related to decline in general self-concept, is likely due to big-fish-little-pond effect, whereby students' self appraisal is negatively affected by changes in peer context. Despite the steeper declines in math and general self-concept, however, the overal levels of both remain higher among high ability students than among their average ability peers.status: publishe