Curious Cat Management logo

Systematic review of the Hawthorne effect: New concepts are needed to study research participation effects

Systematic review of the Hawthorne effect: New concepts are needed to study research participation effects

"Nineteen purposively designed studies were included, providing quantitative data on the size of the effect in eight randomized controlled trials, five quasiexperimental studies, and six observational evaluations of reporting on one's behavior by answering questions or being directly observed and being aware of being studied. Although all but one study was undertaken within health sciences, study methods, contexts, and findings were highly heterogeneous. Most studies reported some evidence of an effect, although significant biases are judged likely because of the complexity of the evaluation object. Conclusion Consequences of research participation for behaviors being investigated do exist, although little can be securely known about the conditions under which they operate, their mechanisms of effects, or their magnitudes. New concepts are needed to guide empirical studies."

Our Site

Management Improvement
Library
Management Glossary
Management Blog

Topical Portals

Deming
Lean Manufacturing
Six Sigma
Statistics

Management experts

George Box
W. Edwards Deming

Links

Deming
Six Sigma
Design of Experiments
Health Care
Public Sector
Lean Manufacturing