The Internal/External Frame of Reference of Mathematics, English, and Russian Self-Concepts
Journal of Advanced Academics, vol.31, no.4, pp.506-529, 2020 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 31 Issue: 4
- Publication Date: 2020
- Doi Number: 10.1177/1932202x20929703
- Journal Name: Journal of Advanced Academics
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.506-529
- Keywords: academic self-concept, domain-specificity, foreign language, internal–external frame of reference
- Open Archive Collection: Article
- Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Affiliated: No
Abstract
The internal/external (I/E) frame of reference entails high, positive association of mathematics and verbal achievements with matching academic self-concepts but negative or near-zero correlation with their nonmatching self-concepts. This study aimed to extend the traditional I/E model by contrasting the mathematics domain with two foreign languages (English and Russian). A total of 540 Azeri eighth-grade students participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed distinct domain-specific self-concepts for two foreign languages and mathematics, indicating a negative or near-zero nonsignificant correlations between academic self-concepts and nonmatching achievement domains but high positive, significant correlation between academic self-concepts and matching achievement domains. This study revealed distinct domain-specific self-concepts for two foreign languages, indicating a negative or near-zero nonsignificant correlations between verbal self-concepts and nonmatching verbal achievement domains. It was difficult to form a single verbal domain. The findings could be used to inform the design of interventions to improve learners’ academic self-concept and achievement.