Final answer:
Rosenthal and Jacobson's 1968 study examines how teacher expectations can affect student performance, known as the Pygmalion effect, especially in disadvantaged students.
Step-by-step explanation:
The topic of Rosenthal and Jacobson's 1968 study concerns the impact of teacher expectations on student performance, particularly among disadvantaged students. Their research found that when teachers were led to believe certain students would outperform their peers, those students did indeed show academic improvement, irrespective of their actual abilities at the start of the study.
This phenomenon later became known as the Pygmalion effect or self-fulfilling prophecy within educational and psychological fields. This study highlighted the significant role of teacher perceptions and expectations in affecting student success and has influenced educational strategies and teacher training programs to address these biases.