Question

People’s behavior changes when they know they are being observed. This is known as _______; it is also called the _______ effect, after a manufacturing plant where the phenomenon was documented. A common reason for this phenomenon is that people like to make a ______ impression on their observer. In surveys, this creates a bias toward ______ answers. This pattern is called socially desirable responding, or ______ good.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to all of these blanks is pretty complex. Initially, in the first part, we come across the fact that the first answers come from what is known as the Hawthorne effect, which explains that people tend to change their patterns of behavior depending on the situation in which they are, especially when they are being observed, or tested. This Hawthorne effect came to be after a research was performed on a manufacturing plant from Hawthorne Works, in Cicero, Illinois. The final answers come from the social desirability theory, which explains how people will be biased in their responses, especially in surveys, depending on the pressure that is being placed on them. This has to do with workers, their performance and how to measure their responses to the impact of good, or bad, work conditions to their overall perception. As such, the answers are thus:

People´s behavior changes when they know they are being observed. This is known as reactivity; it is also called the Hawthorne Effect, after a manufacturing plant where the phenomenon was documented. A common reason for this phenomenon is that people like to make a good, or positive, impression on their observer. In surveys, this creates a bias toward socially acceptable answers. This pattern is called socially desirable responding or, over-reporting good behavior.