The Hawthorne Effect

The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals change their behavior when they know they are being observed. The term was first used in the 1950s to describe a series of studies conducted at the Hawthorne Works factory in Illinois, USA, by researchers from Harvard University. The studies aimed to investigate the effects of changes in lighting and other working conditions on the productivity of factory workers. The researchers found that productivity increased when the lighting was improved, but also increased when the lighting was made worse. They concluded that the workers’ productivity increased simply because they knew they were being observed and were making an effort to please the researchers.

This effect is observed in many fields such as in management, sociology, psychology, and education. In management, the effect can be used to increase productivity by simply observing the employees and providing feedback. In education, the effect can be used to improve student performance by simply monitoring their progress. The Hawthorne effect is also known as the Observer Effect and refers to changes in behavior due to the awareness of being observed or studied.