Hawthorne studies Flashcards
What is the Hawthorne study?
The Hawthorne studies were a series of experiments conducted in the 1920s and 1930s at the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company in Chicago. These studies were aimed at understanding how changes in the physical and social environment of the workplace affected employee productivity and morale.
what did the hawthrone study involve?
The studies involved manipulating various aspects of the work environment, such as lighting intensity, break times, and work hours, to see how they affected employee behavior and productivity.
What were the results of the study?
The results of the studies showed that the productivity of workers was influenced not only by their working conditions but also by social and psychological factors such as group dynamics, motivation, and leadership.
What did the Hawthorne study lead to?
This led to the development of the human relations movement in management theory, which emphasized the importance of treating workers as individuals with unique needs and motivations, and the incorporation of social and psychological factors in the workplace. The Hawthorne studies also highlighted the importance of communication and feedback in the workplace, as well as the need for management to understand and respond to the needs of their employees.
what are the strengths of the hawthrone studies?
They provide a foundation for understanding the importance of employee morale and behavior on productivity.
They served as the precursor to modern organizational behavior, influencing research and management practices.
The Hawthorne Studies revealed that workers’ reactions to changes in their environment, such as levels of lighting, have a significant effect on their productivity.
what are the weaknesses of the hawthrone studies?
The Hawthorne experiment’s methodology has been criticized for its lack of rigor and scientific validity, with the findings being based on subjective observations rather than objective measurements.
The Hawthorne Studies did not address issues of power dynamics in the workplace or the role of management in shaping employee behavior.
The Hawthorne Studies were conducted over a relatively short period and involved a small sample size, limiting their generalizability.
what are the 4 key studies.
Illumination Experiment, Relay Assembly Test Room Experiment, Mass Interviewing Experiment and Bank Wiring Room Experiment
what is the illumination experiment
the illumination experiment sought to see the relationship between lighting conditions and work productivity.
workers were divided into experimental and control groups.
the outcome was that productivity increased regardless of light conditions, meaning that productivity were influenced by other factors.
what is the relay assembly test room experiment?
this focused on the effects of group dynamics and interpersonal relationships on worker behaviour.
The study involved a group of women working in a relay assembly test room, which was designed to simulate a factory environment.
researcher changes factors such as:
breaks and peer pressure
They found that group dynamics and interpersonal relationships played a significant role in worker behaviour.
what is the Mass Interviewing Experiment.
surveys were taking regarding social and phycological factors. to collect data on their attitudes and opinions, which they then analysed to uncover patterns that could explain worker behaviour.
what is the Bank Wiring Room Experiment?
effects of wage incentives on worker productivity.
The study involved a group of men working in a bank wiring room, and the researchers introduced various incentives, such as bonuses and piece-rate payments, to see how these affected productivity.
They found that worker productivity increased when incentives were offered, but that there was a point of diminishing returns beyond which further incentives had no effect.
