/ Dictionary / Index H Hawthorne effect: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: Haw'thorne effect" Pronunciation: [key] — Psychol. Psychol. a positive change in the performance of a group of persons taking part in an experiment or study due to their perception of being singled out for special consideration. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. Hawthorne Hawthornesque Related Content Daily Word Quiz: paradox Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language