Elton Mayo conducted his now-classic experiment on worker productivity. Mayo found that he could increase productivity by changing variables in a work environment, but that changing variables back also increased productivity. What did he conclude was the true cause of the increase in productivity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mayo concluded that the increase in productivity was not due to the changes in the work environment (such as increased lighting and longer breaks), but rather due to the effect of being studied, which made the workers feel valued and motivated to increase their productivity. This is known as the Hawthorne effect.

Elton Mayo Conducted His Now-Classic Experiment on Worker Productivity