Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The Hawthorne effect is the phenomenon where individuals modify or improve an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. It highlights how the mere presence of a researcher can affect the outcomes of a study.
Related terms
Observer bias: The tendency for researchers' expectations or preferences to affect the outcome of a study.
Social desirability bias: The tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.
Experimental control: A procedure in experimental research to ensure that extraneous variables do not influence the outcome of the experiment