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Cautious interpretation of within-domain effects in the classic I/E model

Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The article recommends that researchers avoid interpreting within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as exclusively reflecting social comparisons. The authors state that "labeling the within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as 'social comparison effects', as occasionally done in the literature... should be avoided" because these effects likely also reflect dimensional comparisons, criterion-based comparisons against individual or objective standards, and temporal comparisons. They recommend the more cautious terms "within-domain effects" and "between-domain effects."

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  • Avoid labeling within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as pure social comparison effects: The article recommends that researchers avoid interpreting within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as exclusively reflecting social comparisons. The authors state that "labeling the within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as 'social comparison effects', as occasionally done in the literature... should be avoided" because these effects likely also reflect dimensional comparisons, criterion-based comparisons against individual or objective standards, and temporal comparisons. They recommend the more cautious terms "within-domain effects" and "between-domain effects." (Fabian Wolff et al. (2026))

Claims

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Key Sources

  • Fabian Wolff, Jennifer Schumacher, Jens Möller. (2026). Revisiting the Role of Social and Dimensional Comparisons in the Internal/External Frame of Reference Model: A Systematic Comparison of the Classic and the Difference I/E Model. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-026-10212-w
Page metadata
Field Value
type research-method
id cautious-interpretation-of-within-domain-effects-in-the-classic-ie-model
title Cautious interpretation of within-domain effects in the classic I/E model
description The article recommends that researchers avoid interpreting within-domain effects in the classic I/E model as exclusively reflecting social comparisons.
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-21
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