The 'Hawthorne effect' in clinical and community studies refers to:
- A Participants changing their behavior because they know they are being observed or studied ✓
- B Systematic overestimation of treatment benefit in open-label trials
- C Selection bias from enrolling volunteers who differ from the general population
- D Loss of precision when sample size is too small
Correct answer: A. Participants changing their behavior because they know they are being observed or studied
Explanation
The Hawthorne effect (named after industrial studies at Western Electric's Hawthorne plant, 1920s) refers to the tendency of people to modify their behavior when they know they are being watched or are part of a study. In community health studies this can cause both intervention and control groups to improve health behaviors, diluting measured effect sizes. Blinding study participants helps minimize this effect.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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