| Abstract | | | | do not necessarily support the theory, "The results of |
| The "Hawthorne Effect' was extrapolated from, and | | | | these experiments indicated not only that experimental |
| some years after, research performed by Professor | | | | groups who worked with progressively greater |
| Elton Mayo and his team, in the Hawthorne plant of | | | | illumination produced more (which was fully expected) |
| Western Electric, between the years 1927 and 1932. | | | | but that groups produced more who did not have |
| The research attempted to measure the effect of | | | | more illumination, and indeed even those groups whose |
| changing physical setting of working conditions on staff | | | | illumination was progressively decreased produced |
| performance. It is suggested that the Hawthorne | | | | more. Whatever the relation between illumination and |
| Effect affects outcomes because the subjects of an | | | | productivity, it could not be disentangled from the |
| experimental intervention are aware that they are | | | | influence of other variables. No detailed interpretation |
| being observed and because they are receiving extra | | | | of these seemingly contradictory results was, |
| attention. Experts are divided on the veracity of the | | | | therefore, attempted." |
| Hawthorne Effect, whilst others accept the conclusion, | | | | Adair et al (1989) performed a set of 86 experiments |
| but reject the experiments as an unsuitable means for | | | | to test the Hawthorne Effect, from which they |
| proving it. | | | | concluded, "there was no evidence of an overall |
| The Hawthorne Effect | | | | Hawthorne effect. The mean effect associated with |
| Professor Elton Mayo of Harvard University led a | | | | Haw¬thorne manipulations was non-significant, |
| team of researchers that conducted a series of | | | | and hence such groups essentially could be regarded |
| experiments at the Hawthorne plant of Western | | | | as no different from a no-treatment control. Moreover, |
| Electric, at Cicero Illinois, between the years 1927 and | | | | a detailed analysis of these studies by their control |
| 1932. | | | | procedure, and subsequently by other moderator |
| Robbins (1988) says that the Hawthorn Effect was | | | | variables, also revealed no systematic trends to |
| not derived at the time the studies were performed, | | | | suggest a specific artefact to pose as an alternative |
| but was extrapolated later from the results of three | | | | concern." |
| groups of illumination experiments carried out at | | | | Others suggest that the Hawthorne Effect is no more |
| Hawthorne. These results are often offered as proof | | | | that a legend, for example Occupational Medicine |
| of the theory. | | | | (2006), quoting Gale EAM. The Hawthorne studies-a |
| The suggestion is that increasing illumination levels for | | | | fable for our times? Q J Med 2004;97:439-449, states |
| the experimental group resulted in increased | | | | "These at least seem to be the main facts behind the |
| performance, but subsequent and significant reductions | | | | popular legend, although these particular experiments |
| in illumination levels, produced further increases in | | | | were never written up, the original study reports were |
| performance, thereby proving that a group under | | | | lost, and the only contemporary account of them |
| examination will perform better simply from the | | | | derives from a few paragraphs in a trade journal'." |
| knowledge that they are being observed, and because | | | | Despite concern with the veracity of the Hawthorne |
| of special attention they receive from management, | | | | Effect however, if is still often quoted in contemporary |
| researchers and peers. That is the effects on | | | | research, for example Tan (2004) on the Effects of |
| performance are psychological. | | | | Background Music on Quality of Sleep in Elementary |
| Harris (2002) gives a synopsis of the Effect, as is | | | | School Children, "Another explanation for the significant |
| generally accepted, "The Hawthorne Effect was | | | | experimental effect could be attributed to a |
| formulated during the first time-management study, | | | | Hawthorne effect. In other words, there is a possibility |
| circa 1932, that included employee opinions and | | | | that subjects might be responding to the treatment |
| preferences. | | | | due to their awareness of participation. This might also |
| Psychologists, at the Chicago-based Hawthorne Plant | | | | be the explanation for why subjects in the control |
| of Western Electric, employed a variety of | | | | group also showed improvement in their sleep quality." |
| interventions to improve employee morale and | | | | So whether the Hawthorne Effect actually exists or |
| productivity (Diaper, 1990). Independent variables | | | | not is uncertain, but even if it does, it is not viewed by |
| included variations in levels of lighting, room | | | | some as a valid conclusion from the original |
| temperature. and length and scheduling of rest periods. | | | | experiments performed at Hawthorne, even if they |
| Improved morale and increased productivity were | | | | could be found. |
| observed, temporarily, in response to each of the | | | | References |
| interventions. Consequently, it was concluded that the | | | | Merrett, Frank (February 2006) ":Reflections on the |
| experiment, itself, i.e., interest in and involvement of the | | | | Hawthorne Effect", "Educational Psychology" Vol 26, |
| employees, induced positive attitudinal and behavioral | | | | No. 1, University of Birmingham, UK, pp143-146 |
| responses. The outcomes of the experiment became | | | | Adair John G, Sharpe Donald, Huynh Cam-Loi (1989) |
| known as the Hawthorne Effect, i.e., any change in the | | | | "Hawthorne Control Procedures in Educational |
| physical environment or social interaction that includes | | | | Experiments: A Reconsideration of Their Use and |
| input by the target audience is likely to induce, at least | | | | Effectiveness", University of Manitoba Vol. 59, No. 2, pp |
| temporarily, measurable changes in attitude or | | | | 215-228 |
| behavior." | | | | (May 2006) "Occupational Medicine" Vol.56 Iss 3, |
| Adair et al (1989), quoting Adair (1984), isolated the | | | | Oxford:, p217 |
| features of the methodology that led to the Effect, | | | | Hatch Mary J (1997) "Organisational Theory", Oxford |
| "Examination of Hawthorne control practices of | | | | University Press pp241, 242 |
| educational researchers indicates that three salient | | | | Robins Stephen P (1988) "Management Concepts and |
| features of the original studies have been identified as | | | | Applications, Second Edition", Prentice Hall pp41, 42 |
| the primary source of the methodological artefact: the | | | | Tan, Leepeng P (Summer 2004) "The Effects of |
| special attention subjects received from their | | | | Background Music on Quality of Sleep in Elementary |
| observers and supervisors; awareness of their | | | | School Children", Journal of Music Therapy, 41, 2, pp128 |
| participation in an experiment; and the novelty or unique | | | | Harris, Charles m. (summer 2002) "is multimedia-based |
| features of the experimental activity (Adair, 1984)." | | | | instruction Hawthorne revisited? Is difference the |
| However Merrett (2006) suggests that the | | | | difference? |
| experiments results from the Hawthorne experiments | | | | |