The Hawthorne Effect

“The Hawthorne effect” is the phenomenon by which subjects in behavioral studies change their performance in response to being observed.

The plucking race is a competition among pluckers not on running; but on plucking. This plucking race is organized by the Para Extension Associates in each estate with the support of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Last year this was performed at Lonach, Shannon and Vellai oya estates. This was a strategy used to equalize under norm pluckers up to normal pluckers’ performance level.

Particularly under norm pluckers were selected in each Division and then they were mixed with normal pluckers when detailing plucking rows to each plucker. All were given 15-30 minutes time. The wonder of this competition was that all the weak pluckers plucked equally or more than the normal pluckers. Some of the so termed weak pluckers  performed at extra ordinary level to harvest 5.5 Kg within a 15 minute time frame – nearly 120 picks per minute.        

Before the start of the game, each one was given a short period for relaxation. All were educated on the rules of the game. Each one was monitored by an external person. This competition is an experiment on Hawthorne’s theory on human relations. Hawthorne effect is a term referring to the tendency of some to work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment. Individuals may change their behavior due to the attention they are receiving from observers rather than because of any manipulation of independent variables. At the end, all the plucked leaf was checked on quantity (in Kilo grams), quality of plucked tea and the degree of maintenance of the plucking tables of the bushes plucked. 

Finally we came to conclude that “weak pluckers” existed because they were categorized as weak pluckers. That is,due to perceived inability rather than factual inability.

“An increase in worker productivity was produced by the psychological stimulus of being singled out 

and made to feel important” According to Hawthorne effect