The Observer Effect is a phenomenon where the act of observing something changes the thing being observed. This can occur in various fields, from physics to psychology.
In Psychology
- Hawthorne Effect: This is a specific instance of the observer effect in psychology. When people know they’re being watched, they often change their behavior. This can skew research results if not accounted for.
General Applications
- Market Research: People might behave differently when they know they’re being observed for a market research study, affecting the accuracy of the data.
- Animal Behavior: Observing animals can alter their natural behavior, making it difficult to study them in their true state.
The Observer Effect highlights the challenge of obtaining objective data when the act of observation itself can influence the outcome.
Hawthorne Effect