The Hawthorne Effect (In McDonalds) By: Kegan Saajasto

Goals Hawthorne Effect Do people act differently when they know they are being studied? Do they do things that they otherwise would not?

Review the literature Western Electric Company (1920’s-1930’s) Elton Mayo and Fritz Roethlisberger “investigations into the importance for work behavior and attitudes of a variety of physical, economic, and social variables.” Franke and Kaul “Relay Assembly Room” atmosphere and working conditions

Review the Literature (continued) Alex Carey Awards / money “Overall, however, there is a high – perhaps surprisingly high – degree of correspondence between the present statistical analysis of worker interdependence and the verbal accounts given by the early Hawthorne researchers.” (Worker Interdependence and Output: The Hawthorne Studies Reevaluated. (pg 187)).

Formulate a Hypothesis 1/5 people will leave their trash at the table when NOT aware of the research (20%) 1/8 people will leave their trash at the table when aware of the research (12.5%)

Choose a research Method Field Research Observation McDonalds

Research Plan McDonalds Call to get permission 4:00 10 minute span without signs (changed) 10 minute span with signs (changed)

Results without signs Results in America # of People who got up to leave # of People who threw all of their trash away # of People who didn’t throw their trash away % of people who didn’t throw their trash away 9 7 2 22% Results in South Korea # of People who got up to leave # of People who threw all of their trash away # of People who didn’t throw their trash away % of people who didn’t throw their trash away 17 16 1 5.9%

Results with signs Results in America # of People who got up to leave # of People who threw all of their trash away # of People who didn’t throw their trash away % of people who didn’t throw their trash away 12 11 1 8.3% Results in South Korea # of People who got up to leave # of People who threw all of their trash away # of People who didn’t throw their trash away % of people who didn’t throw their trash away 21 0%

Analysis of Results Hawthorne Effect: Supported? Refuted? 1/5 (20%) 2/9, 1/17 (22%), (5.89%) With Signs 1/8 (12.5%) 1/12, 0/21 (8.3%), (0.0%)

Possible Flaws Signs were only in English Signs visibility Coincidence/Chance Not enough time What people eat may change results Size Difference

Pictures of American Experiment

Pictures of South Korean Experiment

Citations Alex Carey. "The Hawthorne Studies: A Radical Criticism." American Sociological Review, Vol. 32, No. 3 (Jun., 1967), Pp. 403-416. American Sociological Association. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2091087>. "The Interview Process The Human Relations Movement , Historical Collections." Baker Library | Bloomberg Center. Harvard Business School. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/hawthorne/07.html#seven>.

Jones, Stephen R. G. "Was There a Hawthorne Effect Jones, Stephen R.G. "Was There a Hawthorne Effect?" The American Journal Of Sociology 98 (Nov. 1992): 451-68. JStor. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. Milton Bloombaum. "The Hawthorne Experiments: A Critique and Reanalysis of the First Statistical Interpretation by Franke and Kaul." Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan., 1983), Pp. 71-88. University of California Press. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1389160>.

Stephen R. G. Jones. "Worker Interdependence and Output: The Hawthorne Studies Reevaluated." American Sociological Review, Vol. 55, No. 2 (Apr., 1990), Pp. 176-190. American Sociological Association. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2095625>.