The results from the classic experiment involving psychology students randomly assigned to work either with "bright" rats or with "dull" rats suggest that:
A)labeling students as "gifted" has negative effects on their social lives.
B)students identified as "not gifted" actually may work harder academically due to increased motivation.
C)labeling students as "gifted" actually has unintended negative consequences on academic performance.
D)students labeled as gifted do better in school because teachers treat them differently.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The results from the classic experiment involving psychology students randomly assigned to work either with "bright" rats or with "dull" rats suggest that students labeled as gifted do better in school because teachers treat them differently. The experiment showed that the rats labeled as "bright" received more praise, attention, and a more favorable evaluation than the rats labeled as "dull," which in turn affected their performance on a maze task. This phenomenon is known as the "Pygmalion effect" in which the expectations of others influence our behavior and performance. Therefore, the best choice is D, which aligns with the findings of the classic experiment.

The Results from the Classic Experiment Involving Psychology Students Randomly