What effect does the Hawthorne phenomenon have on research?

• A. It enhances external validity
• B. It threatens internal validity
• C. It increases sample size
• D. It decreases bias

Answer: (B)

The Hawthorne phenomenon refers to the alteration of behavior by study participants due to their awareness of being observed. This phenomenon can significantly threaten internal validity because the changes in behavior observed may not be a true reflection of the variables being studied but rather a reaction to being part of the research. As participants modify their actions simply because they know they are being watched, it complicates the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Thus, any observed effect could be attributed to the participants’ awareness instead of the experimental conditions, which undermines the reliability of the results and conclusions drawn from the research.