Hawthorne Experiments

The video discusses the Hawthorne studies conducted at a Western Electric Company facility near Chicago. These studies aimed to find ways to improve worker productivity. A key experiment involved varying the amount of light to see its effect on productivity. Surprisingly, even in low light conditions, productivity was higher than the baseline. This led to the discovery of the Hawthorne effect, which suggests that people change their behavior when they know they are being observed.

Where were the Hawthorne studies conducted?

• At a Boston research center

• In a Los Angeles factory

• At a Western Electric Company facility near Chicago

• In a New York City office

What was the primary focus of the most famous Hawthorne study?

• The role of breaks in enhancing performance

• The influence of lighting on worker productivity

• The impact of noise levels on worker efficiency

• The effect of temperature on productivity

How did worker productivity change with increased lighting?

• It decreased significantly

• It remained the same

• It increased

• It fluctuated randomly

What surprising result was observed when lighting was reduced to moonlight conditions?

• Productivity increased further

• Productivity matched the baseline

• Productivity remained above baseline

• Productivity dropped below baseline

What does the Hawthorne effect suggest about human behavior?

• People are unaffected by external expectations

• People change their behavior when they know they are being observed

• People perform better in dim lighting

• People work harder when they are alone