AP PSYCHOLOGY

RESEARCH METHODS THINKING CRITICALLY WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND DESCRIPTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
If Alaysia and Jake know that Mr. Motley is sitting in the back of the classroom to observe Mr. J, they might alter their normal behavior. This is referred to as the ____
A
social desirability bias
B
Hawthorne effect
C
Yerkes-Dodson law
D
Cannon-Bard theory
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The Hawthorne Effect is when subjects of an experimental study attempt to change or improve their behavior simply because it is being evaluated or studied. The term was coined during experiments that took place at Western Electric’s factory in the Hawthorne suburb of Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Detailed explanation-2: -Revised on November 18, 2022. The Hawthorne effect refers to people’s tendency to behave differently when they become aware that they are being observed. As a result, what is observed may not represent “normal” behavior, threatening the internal and external validity of your research.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Hawthorne Effect occurs when individuals adjust their behaviour as a result of being watched or observed. For example, employees may work harder and more diligently knowing their manager is closely watching, or children behave better because their parents are looking on.

Detailed explanation-4: -Examples of the Hawthorne Effect 4. School: Research found that hand washing rates at a primary school increased as much as 23 percent when another person was present with the person washing their hands-in this study, being watched led to improved performance.

There is 1 question to complete.