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Hawthorne Effects and Lie Detectors

Lie detector tests are used primarily in the law enforcement, judicial and private business sectors. It is important to note that the dependability of lie detector tests is a hotly debated topic. Errors in testing are attributed to the examiner's approach to questioning, how the subject has prepared for the examination, the examiner's interpretation of the results and the subject's nervousness and anxiety.

  1. Lie Detectors

    • Polygraphs, commonly called lie detectors, monitor a subject's physiological reactions to questions. A polygraph does not detect lies; rather it measures changes in heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure and perspiration. Changes in physiological responses signal that the subject may be lying.

    The Hawthorne Effect

    • The term was coined in 1950 by Henry A. Landsberger while he was studying the link between productivity and light levels. Landsberger noted that productivity seemed to improve during the study, but diminished when the study stopped. He concluded that the improvement in production was linked to the motivational effect of attention being shown to the workers. Today, the term is used to identify any type of short-lived increase in productivity, or the change in behavior exhibited by a subject when he knows he is being observed.

    Lie Detectors And The Hawthorne Effect

    • While there is no specific link between the Hawthorne effect and lie detectors, it is reasonable to assume that a subject would react physiologically in response to the motivational effects of being interviewed. .

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