Self-concept in mathematics (MSC) and interest in mathematics are important predictors of whether a student will choose to major in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field at university. Research on the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) has shown that both predictors are affected by the achievement composition of students in schools. That is, given the same individual ability, students in higher achieving schools exhibit lower MSC and interest in mathematics than students in lower achieving schools due to social comparison processes. The BFLPE has been replicated in high school settings many times, but less is known about the long-term effects of this context effect. In the present study, we investigated the long-term effects of the BFLPE on the aspiration to major in and the actual decision to major in a STEM field at university. We used data from a German longitudinal study. The results showed no direct BFLPE on the aspiration to enroll in a STEM major at the end of high school or on actual enrollment in a STEM major 2 years after graduating from high school. However, small negative indirect effects of the BFLPE via MSC and interest in mathematics on the aspiration to and enrollment in a STEM major occurred. In sum, the longitudinal BFLPE on STEM major choice was small. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

中文翻译：

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离开池塘——选择海洋：学生构成对大学 STEM 专业选择的影响。

数学中的自我概念 (MSC) 和对数学的兴趣是学生是否会选择在大学主修科学、技术、工程或数学 (STEM) 领域的重要预测因素。对大鱼小池塘效应 (BFLPE) 的研究表明，这两个预测因素都受到学校学生成绩构成的影响。也就是说，在个人能力相同的情况下，由于社会比较过程，成绩好的学校的学生比成绩差的学校的学生表现出较低的 MSC 和对数学的兴趣。BFLPE 已在高中环境中多次复制，但人们对这种背景效应的长期影响知之甚少。在目前的研究中，我们调查了 BFLPE 对大学主修 STEM 领域的愿望和实际决定的长期影响。我们使用了德国纵向研究的数据。结果显示，在高中毕业时注册 STEM 专业的愿望或高中毕业 2 年后实际注册 STEM 专业的愿望没有直接的 BFLPE。然而，BFLPE 通过 MSC 和对数学的兴趣对 STEM 专业的愿望和入学产生了小的负面间接影响。总之，STEM 专业选择的纵向 BFLPE 很小。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）结果显示，在高中毕业时注册 STEM 专业的愿望或高中毕业 2 年后实际注册 STEM 专业的愿望没有直接的 BFLPE。然而，BFLPE 通过 MSC 和对数学的兴趣对 STEM 专业的愿望和入学产生了小的负面间接影响。总之，STEM 专业选择的纵向 BFLPE 很小。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）结果显示，在高中毕业时注册 STEM 专业的愿望或高中毕业 2 年后实际注册 STEM 专业的愿望没有直接的 BFLPE。然而，BFLPE 通过 MSC 和对数学的兴趣对 STEM 专业的愿望和入学产生了小的负面间接影响。总之，STEM 专业选择的纵向 BFLPE 很小。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2020 APA，保留所有权利）