The psychological response in which the subjects in the research study change their behavior simply because of their awareness of being participated in the study is known as:

1. A

   Hawthorne effect

2. B

   Novelty effect

3. C

   Reactive effect

4. D

   Regression effect

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur lecturer 2021

Explanation

• The Hawthorne effect specifically refers to the psychological phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed.
• This effect was first identified during studies at the Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, where worker productivity seemed to improve whenever changes were made to their environment, leading researchers to conclude the improvements were due to the attention they received.
• It is a significant consideration in research as it can act as a confounding variable, making it difficult to determine if the observed outcomes are due to the intervention or simply the act of observation.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: The Novelty effect is incorrect because it attributes behavior change to the newness or originality of an intervention, not to the awareness of being observed.
• Option C: While the Hawthorne effect is a type of reactive effect, 'Reactive effect' is a much broader term. The Hawthorne effect is the specific and most accurate term for behavior change due to awareness of study participation.
• Option D: The Regression effect, or regression to the mean, is a statistical phenomenon, not a psychological response to observation. It describes the tendency for extreme results to move closer to the average upon re-measurement.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Research methodology and threats to internal validity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• When nurses conduct or participate in clinical research, they must be aware of the Hawthorne effect. It can skew study results, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions about the effectiveness of a new nursing intervention or treatment.
• To minimize the Hawthorne effect, researchers can use control groups, unobtrusive observation methods, or allow for an adaptation period before collecting data.
• What if? If a nursing study on hand hygiene compliance shows a sudden, dramatic improvement right after the study begins, a nurse manager should suspect the Hawthorne effect. The staff may be more diligent simply because they know they are being watched, not because of a lasting change in behavior.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the core concept in the question stem. The question is asking for the specific term for when research subjects change their behavior because they know they are being watched.
• Read each option and recall its definition in the context of research methodology.
• Option A, Hawthorne effect, directly matches the definition of behavior change due to awareness of observation.
• Option B, Novelty effect, relates to the newness of an intervention, which is not mentioned.
• Option C, Reactive effect, is a broad category, and Hawthorne effect is a more specific and fitting term.
• Option D, Regression effect, is a statistical concept about scores moving to the average, which is unrelated to the psychological response described.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Research methodology and threats to internal validity
• Stem keywords: psychological response, research study, change their behavior, awareness of being participated
• Lead-in keywords: is known as
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q10psBSQ_cceG86nIFqkjA

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Psychology Baron Misra 5e Part 1 p. 52-54

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 27-29