Dataset Information

The Hawthorne effect and energy awareness.

ABSTRACT: The feeling of being observed or merely participating in an experiment can affect individuals' behavior. Referred to as the Hawthorne effect, this inconsistently observed phenomenon can both provide insight into individuals' behavior and confound the interpretation of experimental manipulations. Here, we pursue both topics in examining how the Hawthorne effect emerges in a large field experiment focused on residential consumers' electricity use. These consumers received five postcards notifying, and then reminding, them of their participation in a study of household electricity use. We found evidence for a Hawthorne (study participation) effect, seen in a reduction of their electricity use--even though they received no information, instruction, or incentives to change. Responses to a follow-up survey suggested that the effect reflected heightened awareness of energy consumption. Consistent with that interpretation, the treatment effect vanished when the intervention ended.

SUBMITTER: Schwartz D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3780837 | biostudies-other | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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The Hawthorne effect and energy awareness.

Schwartz Daniel D Fischhoff Baruch B Krishnamurti Tamar T Sowell Fallaw F

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20130903 38

The feeling of being observed or merely participating in an experiment can affect individuals' behavior. Referred to as the Hawthorne effect, this inconsistently observed phenomenon can both provide insight into individuals' behavior and confound the interpretation of experimental manipulations. Here, we pursue both topics in examining how the Hawthorne effect emerges in a large field experiment focused on residential consumers' electricity use. These consumers received five postcards notifying, ...[more]

PMID: 24003110

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Project description:ImportanceSelf-awareness of deficits, or the ability to understand the effects of impairments on daily life, is often diminished after a stroke. Diminished self-awareness influences participation in rehabilitation and functional outcomes.ObjectiveTo examine whether self-awareness of deficits changed over time after a stroke (N = 43) and whether metacognitive strategy training (n = 21) resulted in improved self-awareness compared with direct skill training (n = 22).DesignSecondary analysis of data collected from a randomized controlled trial.SettingInpatient stroke rehabilitation.ParticipantsAdults with cognitive impairments after an acute stroke.InterventionMetacognitive strategy training is an approach in which clients are guided through a process of self-assessment and develop solutions for barriers to task performance. This approach was compared with direct skill training, in which the therapist provides specific instructions for task completion, removing the client-initiated assessment and problem-solving components.Outcomes and measuresSelf-awareness measures included the Self-Regulation Skills Interview and Self-Awareness of Deficits Interview at baseline and 3 mo and 6 mo after the intervention. We used a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to analyze change in self-awareness and a two-way ANOVA to examine differences between groups over time.ResultsThere was a statistically significant and potentially meaningful difference over time in the self-awareness domain of strategy behavior, F(2) = 3.35, p = .039, but there were no differences in improvements between the metacognitive strategy and direct skill training groups.Conclusions and relevanceSelf-awareness warrants further investigation to determine whether it improves naturally over time or through both interventions after stroke.What this article addsSelf-awareness of deficits, and the use of strategies in particular, may improve in the early stages of stroke recovery, but the optimal approach for intervention remains unclear.

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The Hawthorne effect and energy awareness.

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The Hawthorne effect and energy awareness.

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