3. Which of the following can be inferred to demonstrate the Hawthorne Effect as mentioned in the passage?Difficulty Level:
600ExplanationMind-mapTo introduce a set of experiments performed to relate level of lighting and productivity (First half)
To conclude that group pride improves work performance (Second half)
The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context.
A. Trap. The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of an individual from a large team of athletes setting up a world record soon after the team’s training, “setting up a world record” suggests “better performance”, but
there is no suggestion regarding “special attention received by a group”: so, it is incorrect to state that this scenario demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect. Incorrect.
B. Trap. The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of a chess
prodigy winning an international title after receiving mentorship from a team of leading coaches, “winning an international title” suggests good “performance”, but
there is no suggestion regarding “a group” of “performers”, and it is an individual who receives a “special” mentorship, not “a group receiving special attention”; so, it is incorrect to state that this scenario demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect. Incorrect.
C. The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of a group of college students working on a class assignment and ranking first among all groups in the class, there is a reference to a “group” and “ranking first” suggests good “performance”,
but there is no suggestion regarding “special attention” received by the group; so, it is incorrect to state that this scenario demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect. Incorrect.
D. The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of a group of filmmakers collaborating with one another to co-direct a large-budget movie, there is a reference to a “group”, but there is no suggestion regarding the group’s “performance” or “special attention” received by the group, so, it is incorrect to state that this scenario demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect. Incorrect.
E. Correct. The second half mentions that the Hawthorne Effect suggests that “individuals in a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of
a crew of an airline improving customer service ratings after being featured in the airline's monthly magazine, "a crew” suggests "a group”, “being featured in the a group perform better if they believed that their group was paid special attention”; in the case of a crew of an airline improving customer service ratings after being featured in the airline's monthly magazine, "a crew” suggests "a group”, “being featured in the airline's monthly magazine” suggests “receiving special attention”, and “improvement in customer service ratings” suggests “better performance’; so, this scenario demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect.
E is the best choice.