An Investigation of the Reciprocal Internal/External Frame of Reference Model of Academic Self-concept and Academic Achievement Relations among Chinese Secondary School Students

Abstract

The reciprocal internal/external frame of reference model (RI/EM) explains the complex relations between domain-specific academic self-concepts and academic achievements in two domains (e.g., math and Chinese). In the present study, we test the validity of RI/EM in a sample of mainland Chinese secondary students (N = 434) in Yunnan province using a three-wave longitudinal research design. Structural equation modeling analyses found that T1 academic achievements affected T2 academic self-concepts positively within the same domain but negatively across domains. Meanwhile, paths from T2 academic self-concepts to T3 academic achievements were also positive within the same domain. However, the cross-domain effects of T2 academic self-concepts on T3 academic achievements were inconsistent. Specifically, T2 mathematics self-concept negatively affected T3 Chinese achievement, but T2 Chinese self-concept did not negatively affect T3 mathematics achievement. Overall, these findings support the RI/EM assumptions, providing further evidence for the cross-cultural generality of the RI/EM. Implications are outlined for theory and practice.