Chapter 7: Methodological Innovation in Big-Fish–Little-Pond Effect Research: Methodological-Substantive Synergy at Work

In arguing for the value of methodological substantive synergies, Marsh and Hau (2007) noted that research in methodology was often at its best when tasked with finding solutions to substantive theoretical questions. New methodologies, they argued, can also stimulate new substantive research questions and provide better approaches to current ones. In this chapter we illustrate the value of espousing a methodological-substantive synergy by tracing developments in big-fish–little-pond effect (BFLPE) research. We set the scene by first describing the BFLPE paradigm and high-lighting the educational importance of its predictions, and continue by outlining measurement issues pertaining to the BFLPE and the ways in which methodology used to test for the BFLPE for almost 30 years has changed and progressed to take advantage of advances in statistical methodology. Indeed, methodological developments stimulated by the BFLPE have also stimulated the development of new statistical tools now being used across the social sciences.