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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Positive self-concept

Overview

  • Influence: Positive self-concept
  • Domain: Student
  • Sub-Domain: Self
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Conceptions of our self are cognitive appraisals (how we respond to and interpret an event), expressed in terms of our take on the event, our expectations of the outcomes of this event, and/or approach to handling the event. These attributes may be consistent or inconsistent depending on the type or amount of confirmation or disconfirmation our appraisals received from ourselves or from others.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 14
  • Number of studies: 914
  • Number of students: 633,055
  • Number of effects: 3,625
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.54
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Review of Educational Research Hansford & Hattie The Relationship Between Self and Achievement/Performance Measures 1982 Self-concept 128 202,823 1,136 0.43
Orientation Scolaire et Professionnelle Muller, Gullung, & Bocci Concept de soi et performance scolaire: Une meta-analyse [Self-concept and academic achievement: A meta-analysis] 1988 Self-concept 38 NA 838 0.36
Report Wickline Ethnic differences in the self-esteem/academic achievement relationship: a meta-analysis 2003 Self-concept 41 48,038 41 0.35
Educational Psychologist Valentine, DuBois, & Cooper The relation between self-beliefs and academic achievement: A meta-analytic review 2004 Self-concept 56 50,000 34 0.16
Educational Psychologist O'Mara, Marsh, Craven, & Debus Do self-concept interventions make a difference? A synergistic blend of construct validation and meta-analysis 2006 Self-concept interventions 145 NA 460 0.51
Book Dulay The Effect of Self-concept on Student Achievement 2017 Self-concept 123 223,068 123 0.82
Book Körük The Effect of Self-Esteem on Student Achievement 2017 Self-esteem 46 27,419 46 0.49
Dissertation Lackner A meta-analysis investigating the correlation between self-esteem and academic achievement in African Americans: Merging social psychology and a Jesuit Education 2015 Self-esteem on African Americans 27 NA 41 0.43
Journal of School Psychology Huang Self-concept and academic achievement: A meta-analysis of longitudinal relations 2011 Self-concept 32 44,594 39 0.49
Educational Psychology Review Wu, Guo, Yang, Zhao, & Guo A meta-analysis of the longitudinal relationship between academic self-concept and academic achievement.  2021 Achievement to self over time 62 NA 66 0.35
Edukatif: Journal Ilmu Pendidikan Shinta & Yudiarsa Meta-Analysis antara Hubungan Self-Concept dengan Academic Achievement 2021 Self-concept 12 NA 12 0.52
Revue des sciences de l'éducation Gueyaud & Dassa The configuration of correlations between self-concept and academic performance: a meta-analysis. 1998 Self-concept 108 NA 693 0.32
Universal Journal of Educational Research Suciati, Khadijah, Khaerani, & Manaf Self Concept & Mathematics Achievement: A Meta-analysis. 2020 Self-concept 28 NA 28 1.58
Conference paper Ding, Lai, Wang, & Wang The effect of academic self-concept on academic achievement in mainland China: A meta-analysis. 2024 Academic Self-concept 68 37,113 68 1.02
TOTAL/AVERAGE 914 633,055 3,625 0.56
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