Hawthorne effect

The Hawthorne effect is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to improve or change their behavior when they know they are being observed or studied. For example, employees might work harder because they realize they’re being watched during an experiment. This change isn’t necessarily because of the actual intervention or condition being tested, but simply because the attention makes them feel special or motivated. It’s important in research because it can influence the results, making it look like an intervention is more effective than it truly is.