Answer: Hawthorne effect
Explanation:
The Hawthorne effect refers to a phenomenon where individuals modify or improve their behavior simply because they are aware of being observed. This effect was first observed during the Hawthorne studies conducted in the 1920s and 1930s at the Hawthorne Works electric company in Illinois, USA. Researchers found that workers' productivity increased when they were aware that they were being observed, regardless of changes in working conditions or incentives provided.
The Hawthorne effect can occur due to various reasons:
Increased Attention: When individuals know they are being observed, they may pay more attention to their behavior and performance, leading to improved performance.
Desire to Please: Individuals may have a natural tendency to want to please authority figures or researchers, leading them to exert more effort or demonstrate better behavior when being observed.
Self-Awareness: Being observed may increase individuals' self-awareness, prompting them to behave in a manner that aligns with social norms or expectations.
Evaluation Apprehension: Individuals may experience anxiety or apprehension about being evaluated, motivating them to perform better to avoid negative judgment or criticism.
Overall, the Hawthorne effect can introduce a threat to the validity of research findings because it can artificially inflate or alter participants' behavior, making it difficult to determine the true impact of independent variables on the outcome of interest.
