scholarly journals Social Comparison and Performance: Experimental Evidence on the Fair Wage-Effort Hypothesis

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Gachter ◽  
Christian Thöni
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Carmona ◽  
Abraham P. Buunk ◽  
Arie Dijkstra ◽  
José M. Peiró

The present study examined whether social comparison responses (identification and contrast in social comparison) mediated the relationship between goal orientation (promotion and prevention) and self-efficacy, and whether self-efficacy was subsequently related with a better performance. As expected, the results showed that promotion-oriented individuals – who are focused on achieving success – had higher self-efficacy than prevention-oriented individuals – who are focused on avoiding failure. Only one of the social comparison responses had a mediating role. That is, the tendency to contrast oneself with others who were doing better mediated the relationship between a prevention goal orientation and self-efficacy. In addition, self-efficacy was related to a better performance.


Author(s):  
Christina G. L. Nerstad ◽  
Sut I Wong ◽  
Astrid M. Richardsen

In this study, we propose that when employees become too engaged, they may become burnt out due to resource depletion. We further suggest that this negative outcome is contingent upon the perceived motivational psychological climate (mastery and performance climates) at work. A two-wave field study of 1081 employees revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between work engagement and burnout. This finding suggests that employees with too much work engagement may be exposed to a higher risk of burnout. Further, a performance climate, with its emphasis on social comparison, may enhance—and a mastery climate, which focuses on growth, cooperation and effort, may mitigate the likelihood that employees become cynical towards work—an important dimension of burnout.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Louise Webb-Williams

It is common practice within primary classrooms for teachers to spilt children into different ability groups so that children of similar level are taught together. Whilst this practice is used across the globe, research is mixed on the benefits of such grouping strategy. This paper presents data collected from mixed methods research which investigated teachers use of grouping strategies and social comparison, the act of comparing oneself with others. It focuses on when, why and with whom children from different ability groups compare themselves and the impact this has on their self-perceptions. Drawing upon data from children aged between 10 and 11 years from 12 primary schools, social comparison was found to play a significant role in daily classroom life for some children. The study identified different strands of the social comparison process including acknowledgment, topic, target, and direction, and it revealed positive and negative effects of social comparison. A difference by ability group was identified. Children within the low ability group were particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social comparison and found to engage in more frequent and intentional social comparisons which were heavily relied upon for self-evaluation and performance evaluation. The paper discusses the educational implications of social comparison regarding pupil ability grouping strategies, motivation, engagement, and academic performance. Implications for teacher education and professional development is discussed.


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