Comments on: Questioning the Hawthorne effect http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/06/16/hawthorne-effect/ The blog of John D. Cook Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:22:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jason Dyer http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/06/16/hawthorne-effect/comment-page-1/#comment-19422 Jason Dyer Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:10:13 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=2496#comment-19422 Hmm, I guess I was interpreting the definition differently then. In the case of the educational study the observational effect had arguably a greater affect than the money; it's just the money didn't have a negative impact. Hmm, I guess I was interpreting the definition differently then.

In the case of the educational study the observational effect had arguably a greater affect than the money; it’s just the money didn’t have a negative impact.

]]> By: Gene Harris http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/06/16/hawthorne-effect/comment-page-1/#comment-19371 Gene Harris Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:20:45 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=2496#comment-19371 I wonder if the Hawthorn effect kicks in if your company has announced layoffs or a reduction in force? I wonder if the Hawthorn effect kicks in if your company has announced layoffs or a reduction in force?

]]> By: John S. http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/06/16/hawthorne-effect/comment-page-1/#comment-19365 John S. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:44:14 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=2496#comment-19365 I always considered the key feature of the Hawthorn effect to be the totally counterintuitive (and now shown to be erroneous) conclusion that productivity increased when the lighting levels were lowered. <i>That's</i> what Levitt and List seem to have debunked. In the Indian schools study mentioned in the previous comment, I was expecting to read that the measures of success improved after teachers' salaries were <i>lowered</i>, similar to the way those measures improved in other schools after teachers' salaries were increased. But that's not what was shown, so I don't think the study validates the Hawthorn effect. I always considered the key feature of the Hawthorn effect to be the totally counterintuitive (and now shown to be erroneous) conclusion that productivity increased when the lighting levels were lowered. That’s what Levitt and List seem to have debunked. In the Indian schools study mentioned in the previous comment, I was expecting to read that the measures of success improved after teachers’ salaries were lowered, similar to the way those measures improved in other schools after teachers’ salaries were increased. But that’s not what was shown, so I don’t think the study validates the Hawthorn effect.

]]> By: Jason Dyer http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/06/16/hawthorne-effect/comment-page-1/#comment-19357 Jason Dyer Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:56:14 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=2496#comment-19357 This educational study saw the effect: http://numberwarrior.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/curious-results-in-india-merit-pay-study/ This educational study saw the effect:

http://numberwarrior.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/curious-results-in-india-merit-pay-study/

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