In this age of high stakes testing and accountability for both students and teachers, it is
important to examine the evidence to determine if these relationships are indeed a factor in
raising student achievement. Advocates for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act assert that
the way to improve student achievement is to focus on test scores. However, learning is a
process that involves cognitive and social psychological dimensions, and both processes should
be considered if academic achievement is to be maximized (Hallinan, 2008).