Testing the internal/external frame of reference model of academic achievement and academic self-concept with open self-concept reports

Abstract The internal/external frame of reference model (I/E model) describes the relations between math and verbal achievement and self-concept. Whereas math and verbal achievement are positively associated with the corresponding self-concept, they are negatively associated with the non-corresponding self-concept. As yet, investigations of the I/E model have concentrated on quantitative self-concept assessments in closed-ended questionnaires. The present study aims to investigate whether the patterns of the I/E model are replicated when open-ended self-concept measures are used. Assessing open as well as closed self-concepts of N  = 471 German high school students provides evidence for the generalizability of the I/E model to open-ended self-concept assessments: We found the typical I/E model patterns with both open and closed self-concepts.