The Hawthorne effect on wearable technology: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Wearable technology
• Behavioral science
• Health informatics

Background:

• Wearable technology use is increasing for physical activity tracking and healthcare performance assessment.
• The Hawthorne effect, where monitoring influences behavior, is relevant to wearable technology studies.
• Understanding and managing the Hawthorne effect is crucial for accurate wearable technology research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the acknowledgement and management of the Hawthorne effect in studies using wearable technology.
• To identify how the Hawthorne effect is addressed in wearable technology research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of literature databases and conference proceedings was conducted up to August 31, 2024.
• Studies were included if they acknowledged, controlled for, measured, or leveraged the Hawthorne effect in wearable technology research.

Main Results:

• Out of over 16 million records, only 28 studies (0.0002%) addressed the Hawthorne effect.
• Most studies (75%) acknowledged the effect but did not measure or control for it.
• Few studies attempted to mitigate or harness the Hawthorne effect, with mixed results on its impact on behavior change.

Conclusions:

• The Hawthorne effect is largely unaddressed in wearable technology studies.
• Future research should measure and report the Hawthorne effect in randomized controlled trials.
• Harnessing the Hawthorne effect may be a strategy to promote behavior change and improve health outcomes.