Final answer:
From the Hawthorne studies at Western Electric's Hawthorne Works, it was concluded that individual and social processes, not just physical conditions or wages, have a significant impact on worker attitudes and behavior, leading to the concept known as the Hawthorne effect.
d is correct
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hawthorne studies, conducted at Western Electric's Hawthorne Works, are significant in the field of industrial psychology, as they revealed the importance of psychological and social factors in the workplace. The findings led to the identification of the Hawthorne effect, which refers to the phenomenon where individuals improve their behavior or performance in response to their awareness of being observed. The correct answer to your question is: d. Individual and social processes play a major role in shaping worker attitudes and behavior.
This conclusion was drawn because the researchers initially aimed to analyze the effects of physical work environments, such as lighting levels, on productivity. However, they discovered that changes led to temporary increases in productivity regardless of whether the changes were positive, such as improved lighting, or negative, such as reverting to poor lighting conditions. This improvement was attributed to the increased attention from researchers, not the physical changes themselves.
The Hawthorne studies indicated that workers are motivated not just by monetary rewards but also by factors related to attention, recognition, and interaction with supervisors and researchers. These findings provided new insights into employee motivation, leading to the development of organizational psychology and understanding the complex dynamics of human interaction in the workplace.