Hawthorne Effect
The Hawthorne Effect is the phenomenon where people modify their behavior when they know they are being observed. In UX, this means users may interact with digital products differently during usability tests compared to real-world usage.
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The Psychology Behind It
When individuals feel they are being monitored, they tend to perform better or behave differently to meet perceived expectations. This effect was first observed in workplace studies, where workers’ productivity increased simply because they were aware of being studied.
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Real-World Applications
User Testing Bias: Users may act more carefully or engage more with a product when being observed in a test setting.
Live Chat & Customer Support: The presence of real-time assistance can influence user behavior.
Social Proof & Public Accountability: Users engage more with content when their actions are visible (e.g., public comments, social media engagement).
Analytics Dashboards & Performance Tracking: Employees may improve performance if they know their metrics are being tracked.
Visual Example
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Common Mistakes
Mistake: Relying too much on usability test data without accounting for natural user behavior.
Fix: Use a mix of observational studies, analytics, and real-world feedback.
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How to Apply It in Your Design
Conduct both moderated and unmoderated usability tests to reduce observation bias.
Analyze real-world behavior using analytics tools to supplement test findings.
Provide visible progress indicators in productivity apps to keep users engaged.
Leverage public commitment features (e.g., streaks in learning apps, sharing achievements).
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Key Takeaways
Users change behavior when they know they’re being watched.
Balance usability tests with real-world data to avoid misleading conclusions.
Progress tracking and public accountability can encourage engagement.
User Psychology 3
Psychology Behind UX Design
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