In an experiment by Darley & Gross (1983), research participants were given information about a child's background (poor or rich background). Half of the group then watched a video of the child answering some academic questions, with inconsistent performance. Those with negative expectations, based on the child's background, rated her lower on work habits, motivation, and cognitive skills; those with positive expectations rated her higher on those variables, demonstrating

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Perceptual confirmation occurs when people perceive what they expect to perceive, leading them to interpret ambiguous information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or expectations. In this experiment, participants' expectations based on the child's background influenced their interpretation of her performance.

In an Experiment by Darley & Gross (1983), Research Participants