I whole hardily agree with this idea. I know that I am guilty of it also. I know that when my bosses are on the floor and around I am doing more and acting better than I usually do. Not that my work when they are not watching is anything less then stellar. I think that I act this way because I want them to notice me doing my stellar acts, my leadership abilities, and my general greatness at my job. Maybe they will say that I am doing a great Job.
As for the Hawthorne effect on whether the employees worked better in different scenarios, observed or unobserved, I hope that the people conducting the study realized what good employees the business had. I also think that when you are being observed you might begin to wonder as to why you are being observed. has your work suffered? are you making mistakes? maybe you might get angry at being observed. Who are this people that are observing? do they know what's it like doing the job your doing in the conditions that your working in?
I do not think that any data gathered while in observation mode would be conclusive.It would be along the lines of a false positive.
I chose this topic because I am an example of it
Nicely said
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