Students’ own and perceived teacher reference norms: how are they interrelated and linked to academic self-concept?

This study with 850 students examined the interrelations of students’ own and perceived teacher reference norms in combination with estimating the relations of these constructs to self-concept in the domain of mathematics. All reference norms were positively interrelated. Regression models yielded different results across school tracks: In elementary school, both the individual and the social reference norm were positively related to self-concept on the student level. In mixed school tracks, social reference norm was positively related to self-concept, and there was an interaction effect between grades and social reference norm on the student level. In the highest school track, students’ individual reference norm and perceived teacher social reference norm were positively related to self-concept on the student level. On the classroom level, students’ perceived teacher social reference norm was negatively related to self-concept in mixed school tracks, but positively related to self-concept in the highest school track. Evidence for the big-fish-little-pond-effect was found across all school tracks. These results highlight the importance of considering different reference norms in further research and educational practice. HighlightsStudents’ own and perceived teacher reference norms converge.Students’ reference norms are positively related to self-concept.Perceived teacher reference norms are positively related to self-concept.The use of reference norms varies across school tracks.There is support for the BFLPE in different school tracks.