Final answer:
The alteration of participant behavior due to the awareness of being observed in a study is known as the Hawthorne effect (a). This psychological response can impact study results, making it a crucial factor to control in research to ensure accurate data.
Step-by-step explanation:
When participant behavior and study results are altered by study influences, it is referred to as the Hawthorne effect. The Hawthorne effect occurs when people change their behavior because they are aware that they are being observed as part of a study. This effect is an important consideration for researchers as it can influence the outcomes of a study and thus needs to be controlled for.
The term was coined after studies at the Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works, where changes in working conditions, such as lighting levels, led to an increase in worker productivity simply because the workers knew they were being observed. In order to minimize such effects and obtain more accurate results, researchers may employ methodologies like double-blind studies, where neither the participants nor the experimenters know who belongs to the control group and who receives the treatment.