Incomplete description  Theres a fuller description at the new Hawthorne effect article  Also the derivation of the name is less important then the effect itself  And is this effect mainly speculation based on a single study or what  Last but not least what are the implications for teaching and learning in schools If expectation is a significant factor can it be managed to improve student achievement Or can improper expectations be reduced  Im particularly interested in how the teachers hopes affect the student Given the materialistic view of human beings one might expect that only behavior can be measured or studied But simply deciding to think about a matter a certain way is possible    I decided this wasnt going to work ie that it was useless  Kelly decided that the best thing was for her to become a violinist her grandfather said she had a talent for it  Mark Twain said he could live for two months on a compliment like it was a kind of food  And why do coaches or parents tell children You can do it Does instilling confidence really have an effect on performance  Why are some teachers or coaches significantly better than others Some spectacular so  A related question is why have teachers in many American cities formed labor unions which insist on contracts which adamantly refuse to allow any form of merit pay and insist on a pure seniority system You get paid based on qualifications ie diplomas and certificates but mostly on how many years youve been on the job In NYC you start at around K and work up to around K  But how well you teach is not measured or tracked and has no bearing on you job assignments your influence on curriculum or your paycheck   In private schools a teacher will be paid promoted or fired mainly on results Entire schools are judged based on results ie I send my child to Philips Exeter Academy because hell learn more there   Perhaps the entire school uses the Pygmalion effect You were chosen for this school because youre the best  the student feels the confidence teachers have in him so really applies himself