Rosenthal and jacobson

Year

1968

Aim

To investigate whether students of whom greater intellectual

growth is expected will actually show greater intellectual

growth in a period of one year or less.

Participants

320 students from the same public school, grades 1 to 6

(255 in the control group, 65 in the experimental group).

Procedure

Teachers in the school were told that certain students were

expected to be “growth spurters”, based on the results of

their IQ test. In reality the test was fictitious and students

designated as “spurters” were chosen at random.

Results

control-group students gained on average 8.4 IQ points, while students from the experimental group gained 12.2 IQ points.

• This expectancy advantage was most obvious in young

students

• The advantage of favourable expectations was more

visible in reasoning IQ as compared to verbal IQ.

conclusion

Changes in teachers’ expectations produce changes in

students’ achievement. Stereotypes we have about other

people may affect their behaviour through the process of

self-fulfilling prophecy.