Learn Before
Controlling for the Hawthorne Effect in Experiments
The Hawthorne effect remains a critical consideration in modern experimental design. It is recognized as a potential confounding variable that must be controlled for, as any observed effect might stem from the participants' awareness of being studied rather than the experimental treatment itself. Researchers must design studies to isolate the treatment's impact from the effect of increased attention.
0
1
Tags
Ch.13 Industrial-Organizational Psychology - Psychology @ OpenStax
Psychology @ OpenStax
Introduction to Psychology @ OpenStax Course
OpenStax
OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook
Psychology
Social Science
Empirical Science
Science
Related
Original Findings Leading to the Hawthorne Effect
Controlling for the Hawthorne Effect in Experiments
A company's management team wants to test if playing classical music in a factory will increase worker productivity. For one week, they play the music and have supervisors walk the floor frequently to monitor the workers' output. Productivity increases by 15%. The next week, they continue playing the music but remove the frequent monitoring. Productivity levels return to what they were before the experiment began. Which of the following best explains the initial 15% increase in productivity?
Example of Reactivity: Acting Differently in a Bar
Which of the following best defines the Hawthorne effect in the context of observational research?