The Hawthorne effect on wearable technology: A systematic review

IF 2.5 3区心理学 Q3 NEUROSCIENCES

International Journal of Psychophysiology Pub Date : 2025-07-08 DOI:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.113207

Diego Agustín Abelleyra Lastoria , Sophie Keynes , Martine Nurek , Catherine Kellett , Caroline Blanca Hing

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The use of wearable technology has increased over time. Wearable technology can be used to track, measure, and document physical activity, and to assess performance in healthcare. The Hawthorne effect may play an important role in wearable technology, such that awareness of being monitored can influence the behavioural outcomes of interest. The aim of this systematic review was to ascertain the acknowledgement and management of the Hawthorne effect in studies pertaining to wearable technology.

Methods

Published and unpublished literature databases, conference proceedings and the reference lists of included studies were searched to the 31st of August 2024. Studies were eligible if they acknowledged the Hawthorne effect on wearable technology, attempted to control for it, measured its impact on patient outcomes, or leveraged it to achieve behaviour change.

Results

A total of 16,314,027 records implementing wearable technology were identified. Of these, only 28 addressed the Hawthorne effect (0.0002 %) (2786 subjects). “Acknowledgment” studies (n = 21, 75 %) mentioned the Hawthorne effect but did not measure or control for it. Of these, only 13 gave a clear indication (speculation) of how it may have impacted outcomes. “Minimising” studies (n = 4, 14.3 %) attempted to mitigate the Hawthorne effect. Of these, only two measured and reported its impact on outcomes, yielding conflicting results. Finally, “Harnessing” studies (n = 3, 10.7 %) attempted to utilize the Hawthorne effect to achieve behavioural change. All three measured and reported its impact on outcomes, with two finding that awareness of being monitored increased behaviour change.

Conclusion

Very few studies on wearable technology acknowledge the impact of the Hawthorne effect on outcomes. The Hawthorne effect must be considered, measured, and reported in randomised controlled trials implementing such technologies. Clinicians might also consider harnessing the Hawthrone effect to increase behaviour change and positive outcomes.

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霍桑对可穿戴技术的影响：系统回顾。

导读：随着时间的推移，可穿戴技术的使用越来越多。可穿戴技术可用于跟踪、测量和记录身体活动，并评估医疗保健领域的表现。霍桑效应可能在可穿戴技术中发挥重要作用，例如，意识到被监控可以影响感兴趣的行为结果。本系统综述的目的是确定可穿戴技术研究中霍桑效应的认可和管理。方法：检索至2024年8月31日已发表和未发表的文献数据库、会议论文集及纳入研究的参考文献。如果研究承认霍桑对可穿戴技术的影响，试图控制它，测量它对患者结果的影响，或者利用它来实现行为改变，那么研究就符合条件。结果：共识别了16314027条实施可穿戴技术的记录。在这些研究中，只有28个涉及霍桑效应（0.0002 %）（2786个受试者），以三种方式之一：1)“确认”研究（n = 21,75 %）提到了霍桑效应，但没有对其进行测量或控制。其中，只有13个给出了它可能如何影响结果的明确指示（推测）；2)“最小化”研究（n = 4,14.3 %）试图减轻霍桑效应。其中，只有两个国家测量并报告了其对结果的影响，结果相互矛盾；和3)“利用”研究（n = 3,10.7 %）试图利用霍桑效应来实现行为改变。这三家公司都测量并报告了它对结果的影响，其中两家发现，意识到被监控会增加行为改变。结论：很少有关于可穿戴技术的研究承认霍桑效应对结果的影响。在实施这些技术的随机对照试验中，必须考虑、测量和报告霍桑效应。技术开发人员也可以考虑利用山楂座效应来增加行为改变和积极的结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Psychophysiology 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

10.00%

发文量

177

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Psychophysiology is the official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology, and provides a respected forum for the publication of high quality original contributions on all aspects of psychophysiology. The journal is interdisciplinary and aims to integrate the neurosciences and behavioral sciences. Empirical, theoretical, and review articles are encouraged in the following areas: • Cerebral psychophysiology: including functional brain mapping and neuroimaging with Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Electroencephalographic studies. • Autonomic functions: including bilateral electrodermal activity, pupillometry and blood volume changes. • Cardiovascular Psychophysiology:including studies of blood pressure, cardiac functioning and respiration. • Somatic psychophysiology: including muscle activity, eye movements and eye blinks.