Hawthorne Effect

What is Hawthorne Effect?

The Hawthorne Effect is the phenomenon where individuals modify their behaviour in response to being observed or studied, rather than in response to the experimental conditions themselves. Named after experiments conducted at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works in the 1920s and 1930s, the effect has significant implications for HR. It suggests that employee attention and engagement can improve simply because workers feel they are being noticed and valued. HR professionals should account for the Hawthorne Effect when interpreting the results of workplace studies, pilot programmes, and performance monitoring initiatives.