Hawthorne effect
Hawthorne Effect
The Hawthorne Effect (pronounced: haw-thorn effect) is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the alteration of human behavior when individuals are aware they are being observed. The term originated from a series of studies conducted at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works in Chicago during the 1920s and 1930s.
Etymology
The term "Hawthorne Effect" was coined by Henry A. Landsberger in 1955 during his analysis of the studies conducted at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works. The name is derived from the location of the factory where the studies were conducted.
Definition
The Hawthorne Effect is defined as the alteration in people's behavior when they are aware they are being observed. This can result in improved performance, increased work productivity, or changes in behavior, simply due to the awareness of observation. It is a type of reactivity in which individuals modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed.
Related Terms
- Observer Effect: A phenomenon in physics where the act of observation changes the state of the thing being observed. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with the Hawthorne Effect in social sciences, although they are distinct concepts.
- Social Facilitation: The tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others than when alone.
- Demand Characteristics: Subtle cues that make participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how participants are expected to behave.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hawthorne effect
- Wikipedia's article - Hawthorne effect
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