The Hawthorne Effect
The Hawthorne effect is a phenomenon observed in experiments where subjects change their behavior simply because they know they are being observed. The term was coined in the 1950s by Henry A. Landsberger when analyzing experiments from 1924–33 at the Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, when it was observed that merely the fact of being observed had an effect on productivity.
The Hawthorne Works, an assembly plant for Western Electric, was the focus of a series of experiments that allowed researchers to investigate the effect of changes in light, work hours, rest periods, and other variables had on the job performance of female telephone operators. In the first experiment, researchers increased the illumination level in the work area and observed an increase in speed and quality of output. However, after the researchers reverted back to the original light levels they noticed a further increase in productivity.
These unexpected results led researchers to conclude that something other than the physical changes, such as the heightened awareness of being an integral part of an experiment, was causing the workers to produce more. The Hawthorne Effect refers to this phenomenon, where changes are made due to the focus and attention of the persons being studied rather than the actual effect of the change itself.
It is easy to think that the Hawthorne effect is limited to the factory setting, but the same effect has been observed outside the traditional workplace. For example, many medical studies have experienced the Hawthorne effect when observing the impact of certain treatments or medications on patients. If the patient is aware that they are part of a study, they may behave differently than normal because they expect that the treatment will have a positive effect. As a result, researchers may observe artificially high levels of success for a certain treatment or medication.
The Hawthorne effect cannot be entirely eliminated, as it is an unavoidable consequence of conducting experiments. However, researchers can take steps to minimize the effects of the Hawthorne effect on their data. For example, researchers can use a control group that is not aware of the study to compare any results between the group that is aware of the study and the group that is not.
The Hawthorne effect can also be minimized by providing clear instructions to the subjects of the study. Subjects should be made aware of the purpose of the study and how it is to be conducted. This can help to ensure that subjects do not deviate from the established rules of the experiment.
The impact of the Hawthorne effect cannot be denied, and it remains one of the most important phenomena to consider when designing experiments. The Hawthorne effect can undermine the validity of experiment results, leading to misunderstandings and misattributions of cause and effect. By being aware of the effects of the Hawthorne effect, researchers can be better prepared to account for its impact and minimize the chances of its effects skewing experiment results.