The Famous Hawthorne Experiments

How early 20th-century psychologists looked at the workplace.

In what was the still early days of psychology, researchers tried to figure out if and how they could improve workers’ efficiency by changing their circumstances. The now famous Hawthorne Experiments were the first psychological studies that looked at people in the workplace and therefore became famous — and are still being referenced to this day. Let’s have a closer look.

A while back, we discussed what is called the Pygmalion Effect — about how you can actually make people perform better when you make them feel better. To elaborate on the Pygmalion Effect a little further, we’ll have a look at the famous experiments held at the Hawthorne Western Electric plant in Illinois, from 1924 until 1932, which gave rise to what is now known as the Hawthorne Effect.

Interestingly enough, and not known to many, various experiments were conducted at Hawthorne, led by different researchers and with different groups of workers. It all began with the most famous Hawthorne study to determine if different intensities of light on the work floor would result in more or less productivity. After the light experiments, other variables were tried and tested, like cluttered or clean work stations, floors with or without obstacles, and complete relocation of…