`  ==Incomplete description==  There's 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?  I'm particularly interested in how the teacher's 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 wasn't going to work; i.e., 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``, i.e., diplomas and certificates, but mostly on how many years you've been on the job. In NYC you start at around 35K and work up to around 90K.  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: i.e., I send my child to Philips Exeter Academy because he'll learn more there.   Perhaps the entire school uses the Pygmalion effect? You were chosen for this school because you're the best => the student feels the confidence teachers have in him, so really applies himself.  `