Background: Securing appropriate challenge or preventing boredom is one of the reasons frequently used to justify ability grouping of gifted students, which has been shown to have beneficial effects for achievement. On the other hand, critics stress psychosocial costs, such as detrimental effects on academic self-concept (contrast or…

This study examined the effect of reference group norms on individual attitudes when these norms were transmitted to the individual via the results of an opinion poll. In particular, the study was concerned with the strength of a prior attitude toward an issue and the degree that a reference group could influence attitudes. It was hypothesized…