An experimental method to measure the effect of responsibility on motivation

The time series experimental design is used to measure the effect of increasing individual responsibility with regard to housekeeping in an industrial laboratory. To determine whether the increased responsibility actually motivated the people involved to improve laboratory cleanliness, an inspection panel was selected to rate the lab for cleanliness before and after the proposed policy change was made. Parameters that required some control included remodeling in some areas of the lab, visits to the lab by corporate VIP's, unusually heavy or light work loads, selection and control of the panelists, interference by union cleaners through grievance procedures, and the attitudes of those affected by the change toward the new policy. The results, which dramatically illustrate the need for controlling parameters, indicate some improvement in the housekeeping of the lab that can be related to the policy change.