Rosenthal and Jacobson

Rosenthal and Jacobson conducted a famous study showing that teachers’ expectations can influence students’ academic performance. They told teachers that certain students were “bloomers” likely to improve significantly, based on a pseudoscientific test. In reality, these students were chosen at random. Over the year, those labeled as “bloomers” actually showed greater academic growth, suggesting that teachers’ positive expectations helped boost student achievement. Their work highlights the power of perceptions and beliefs in shaping educational outcomes, emphasizing how teacher attitudes can impact student success even when initial assessments are inaccurate.