Which phenomenon concludes that group members change their behavior as a result of being observed?

Which phenomenon concludes that group members change their behavior as a result of being observed?

• A. The Hawthorne Effect
• B. The Placebo Effect
• C. Social Facilitation
• D. Demand Characteristics

Answer: (A)

Being observed changes how people behave. In the classic Hawthorne studies, workers’ productivity rose not because of the changes to working conditions, but because they knew they were being watched and that researchers were paying attention to them. This illustrates the Hawthorne Effect—the tendency for individuals to alter their performance or behavior when they know they are part of a study or are under observation. The other concepts describe different mechanisms: the placebo effect arises from believing one is receiving active treatment; social facilitation is about improved performance in the presence of others on simple tasks; and demand characteristics are cues about the study's aims that lead participants to act in accordingly. So this phenomenon best explains behavior change tied to being observed.

Being observed changes how people behave. In the classic Hawthorne studies, workers’ productivity rose not because of the changes to working conditions, but because they knew they were being watched and that researchers were paying attention to them. This illustrates the Hawthorne Effect—the tendency for individuals to alter their performance or behavior when they know they are part of a study or are under observation. The other concepts describe different mechanisms: the placebo effect arises from believing one is receiving active treatment; social facilitation is about improved performance in the presence of others on simple tasks; and demand characteristics are cues about the study's aims that lead participants to act in accordingly. So this phenomenon best explains behavior change tied to being observed.