2 ?pts
Which of the following exemplifies the Hawthorne effect?
Elementary students behave well when observers come watch their class to take note on the effectiveness of discipline.
College students who declare a major in their first year are more likely to graduate with honors.
High school students who show aptitude for the visual arts are the least likely to graduate from college.
Middle school students who dislike athletics are asked to shoot free throws in front of their peers.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Elementary students behave well when observers come watch their class to take note on the effectiveness of discipline.
Explanation:
The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed. This concept originated from a series of studies conducted at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works in the 1920s and 1930s, where researchers found that workers improved their productivity not due to changes in working conditions but simply because they knew they were being watched.
In the given options, the first scenario—where elementary students behave well when observers come to evaluate discipline—best exemplifies the Hawthorne effect. Normally, students might exhibit varying degrees of discipline, but the presence of observers prompts them to act in a more disciplined manner than usual. This change is not necessarily because of the school’s rules or inherent behavior but rather because they know they are being watched and judged.
The other options do not reflect the Hawthorne effect:
- College students declaring a major early and graduating with honors reflects academic preparedness and planning rather than behavior changes due to observation.
- High school students with visual arts aptitude being less likely to graduate is a statistical observation rather than a behavioral response to being watched.
- Middle school students disliking athletics and shooting free throws in front of peers might experience performance anxiety but not necessarily a change due to observation in the same way as the Hawthorne effect describes.
This psychological effect is crucial in workplace studies, education, and research settings, as it highlights how human behavior can be unintentionally influenced by the simple act of being observed.
Here is the image illustrating the Hawthorne effect in an elementary school classroom. Let me know if you need any modifications!
