Three dithioester-derived carboxyl acid functionalized RAFT(reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) agents, viz. acetic acid dithiobenzoate, butanoic acid dithiobenzoate and 4-toluic acid dithiobenzoate, were used in the RAFT bulk polymerization of styrene, in order to study the effects of the R-group structure on the living nature of the polymerization. By conducting the polymerization with various concentrations of the RAFT agents and at different temperatures, it was found that the R-group structure of the RAFT agents plays an important role in the RAFT polymerization; the bulky structure and radical stabilizing property of the R-group enhances the living nature of the polymerization and allows the polymerization characteristics to be well controlled.