Lab Experiments – Education Context (teacher expectations) Harvey & Stain (1976) Preconceived ideas about social class of students (labelling/stereotyping) Sample – 96 teachers Procedure showed photos of children Controlled other variables by dividing in terms of gender/ethnicity equally Teachers asked to rate children on expected performance/attitude etc - Findings Lower class children rated less favourably. Ratings based on comparing to students they taught Highlights how teachers pre-judge potential by class Charkin et al (1975) Sample – 48 university students (who taught a lesson to a 10yr old boy) Procedure 1/3 told he was highly motivated/intelligent 1/3 told he was poorly motivated/low IQ 1/3 given no information Findings Charkin videoed lessons and found more eye contact/positive body language to student with higher expectation. Mason (1973) gave teachers negative/positive/ neutral reports on a pupil. Teachers watched video of pupil taking a test – observe for errors Asked to predict end/year grade Found that negative reports have much greater impact than others Lab Experiments – Education Context (teacher expectations) Problems Ethical problems – where real pupils involved – young people have limited understanding of what is happening – deception – lack of informed consent and psychological damage Narrow focus – usually only focus on one area which allows detailed understanding BUT not always seen in relation to other issues, ie ) study expectations but not follow through to see effects on self concept/SFP etc Practical Problems – schools are big/complex – many things may affect teacher expectations (class size, streaming, type of school, catchment area, school policy) Artificiality – not the real world – using photographs/university students etc – not real life situations