ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the applications of the results of the authors' studies and future research directions. It examines the intrapersonal and interpersonal expectancies, as both types of expectancies seem to play a role in the effects of social observational learning. The book addresses the interpersonal expectancy effects. In, Christine Rubie-Davies presents the history of research on the Pygmalion effect, and in this context the author characterizes her own program of studies on expectancy effects, aimed at identifying high and low biased teachers. It is worth emphasizing that the authors managed to determine the scope of the phenomenon and identify several student characteristics related to bias in teachers' expectations, and factors weakening the relationship between teachers' bias and student achievement.
