The Relationship Between Temporal-Dimensional Confidence and Social Comparison in Learning English

Abstract

This study aims to explore the relationship between confidence and social comparison in learning English at school. A total of 158 tenth graders responded to the questionnaire. The three temporal-dimensional confidence scales were constructed. The multiple linear regression analysis, the canonical correlation analysis and the cluster analysis were conducted to explore the relationship. The main results were as follows. First, the learners' confidence is based on a kind of illusion in downward social comparison. Second, past confidence is unrelated to present social comparison. Third, present confidence is based on downward social comparison. Fourth, prospective confidence is based on imaginary upward social comparison. Therefore, it was recommended that teachers should provide less comparative information about academic scores if not necessary.