When it comes to education, it is widely believed that validation is key to motivating students. However, new research suggests this is more complicated – especially when comparing student’s strengths across subjects. The Role of Dimensional Comparison Students engage in dimensional comparison, a process where they assess their strengths in “opposite domains” like math and english to figure out where they truly excel. This means that while praise in one area might boost their confidence within that domain, it could also change how students perceive their abilities in another. Motivation Shaping at Different Ages The study by Ren, Grenell and Gunderson (2025) revealed a promising first look at how middle schoolers and college students interpret praise differently. Middle schoolers, who are still figuring out who they are academically, may not increase their motivation for a subject just because they are praised. Meanwhile, college students, who have a clearer understanding of their abilities, tend to respond more positively to praise that enhances motivation. The Study To investigate this difference, researchers examined whether praising students in one subject affects their motivation in the other among two age groups: 7th - 9th graders and undergraduate college students. Each group had 109 participants. They were asked to complete both math and language reasoning tests and were randomly assigned to either receive praise in one subject (math or verbal), or not receive praise at all. The researchers then measured how this praise influenced their motivation and confidence in both subjects by comparing their measured math and verbal competence, self-concepts and intrinsic values before completing the tests and after receiving their scores back. Key Findings Verbal Praise Increases Verbal Motivation Across both age groups, students who received praise for their verbal performance were more motivated to engage in verbal activities. For college students, this even increased their intrinsic motivation, meaning their internal drive to do reading tasks is stronger. Math Praise and Self-Perception Although praise in neither math nor verbal domains affected students’ math motivational beliefs, college students who received praise in math reported seeing their math performance as better than their verbal performance. This suggests that math praise strengthened their dimensional comparison and belief in their own numerical abilities. A Surprising Reversal in Middle Schoolers An unexpected finding came from middle schoolers: when they were praised in math, they reported feeling more confident in verbal skills. This opposite dimensional comparison effect suggests they may have interpreted math praise as recognition of effort rather than ability. Therefore, middle school students may downplay their math abilities while emphasizing verbal skills to maintain a balanced self-image. Practical Takeaways for Educators This research provides valuable insights for teachers, parents, and mentors: For middle schoolers: When praising math performance, emphasizing ability rather than just effort may help middle schoolers see themselves as truly competent rather than just hardworking. This is particularly important since math competence is often linked with perceptions of brilliance, which can shape students’ long-term engagement in STEM fields. For college students: Praise can directly enhance confidence, meaning targeted encouragement can be a powerful tool for boosting motivation in specific subjects. Since verbal praise was especially effective in increasing intrinsic motivation for college students, educators may want to use subject-specific praise strategically to foster deeper engagement and interest in particular fields. Final Thoughts Praise is a powerful motivator, but its effects are not always straightforward. While college students may respond to praise with increased confidence in that subject, middle schoolers may engage in more complex comparisons that shift how they see themselves academically. Understanding how praise influences motivation at different stages can help educators and parents use it more effectively and turn well-intended compliments into tools for lasting growth.