Bachelorarbeit, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2025

The big fish little pond effect (BFLP effect) has been extensively studied in school settings, but less so in higher education contexts. This study therefore examines the relationship between the expected grades of 70 first-year psychology students and changes in their self-concept and self-esteem, taking into account tolerance of ambiguity and the students' desired master's degree as potential moderating factors. For comparison purposes, a control group of 17 students from degree programmes with lower admission requirements was included. Participants took part in three survey periods: one before the main examination phase, one during the examinations, and one after the results were published. The results showed BFLP effects for self-concept, but not for self-esteem. Performance-related self-esteem showed the strongest correlation with Abitur grades. Students with better Abitur results reported a more positive initial self-concept. No significant effects of the examined moderators were found. These results support the existence of BFLP effects in tertiary education and underscore the need for further research on larger samples to investigate similarities and differences in BFLP effects in the university context compared to primary and secondary education contexts.