Question

One threat to internal validity may occur in a research study where subjects know they are being studied, so they perform differently than usual, producing biased results. This phenomenon is known as the _______________ effect.

a. Hawthorne
b. Maturation
c. Placebo
d. Selection

Answer 1

The phenomenon described is the Hawthorne effect, where subjects in a research study change their behavior because they know they are being observed. This may bias the results of the study. The effect was named after studies conducted at the Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon described is the Hawthorne effect. This effect occurs when subjects know they are being observed in a research study, leading to changes in their behavior that may bias the results. The Hawthorne effect is named after a series of studies conducted at the Western Electric Company's Hawthorne Works in the 1920s and 1930s. Researchers found that any change in variables, such as lighting levels, led to improved productivity, even if the change was negative. The effect faded when the attention from researchers faded, indicating that the artificiality caused by being observed influenced the results (Sonnenfeld, 1985).