Social comparison processes were studied by allowing students to seek information about scores from classes which were similar or dissimilar to themselves. Self-evaluative uncertainty was manipulated prior to this by giving 138 students more or less information about the grade value of their own performance. More scores from the similar class were viewed when the subject had no prior means by which to evaluate himself. This effect was masked when uncertainty about the classes' performance was aroused in addition to uncertainty about oneself.
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