Hawthorne Effect

The Hawthorne Effect is an interesting phenomenon where people alter their behavior due to the awareness of being observed. This effect was first discovered in the 1950s outside of Chicago. The experiment was done on factory workers, and it found that workers had a positive response to the extra attention given by managers who cared about them. This same phenomenon has been noticed in clinical trials as well. “When you’re doing a clinical trial, and you're involved with something that is being observed, your patients tend to do better regardless of how they are being medically treated.” Dr. Michael Koren, CEO of ENCORE Research Group, says. For example, if a patient is in a clinical trial for weight management, they may be more likely to lose weight if they must keep a log of everything they eat and present it to their study coordinator.  So what does that mean for you? It means that you have the chance to improve your health just by participating in a clinical trial, even if you happen to be on a placebo. Studies have shown that patients in clinical studies are more adamant and knowledgeable about their health in the first place. It is safe to say your health will likely improve no matter what study you participate in!