Students' social and learning behavior at school: Applying the generalized internal/external frame of reference model

Using data of N = 492 students and N = 142 teachers from 15 elementary and secondary schools, the present study aimed to apply the generalized internal/external frame of reference model (GI/E model) to the relations between teachers' ratings and students' self-concepts of social and learning behavior. Results provided strong support for the GI/E model's predictions but also for some differential relations in elementary and secondary schools: In both educational levels, there were significantly positive and higher correlations between teachers' ratings of social and learning behavior than between students' self-concepts of social and learning behavior. Teachers' ratings of social (learning) behavior were significantly positively related to students' self-concepts of social (learning) behavior, reflecting social comparisons. However, the expected significantly negative relations between teachers' ratings of social (learning) behavior and students' self-concepts of learning (social) behavior were only found in secondary schools, indicating dimensional comparisons. Results supported the invariance of the GI/E model across educational levels. •The GI/E model is applied to teachers' and students' ratings of social and learning behavior.•The GI/E model is tested for elementary and secondary schools separately.•There is strong support for social comparisons in both elementary and secondary schools.•Dimensional comparisons are only supported in secondary schools.•The relations in the GI/E model are invariant across elementary and secondary schools.