Novelty Effect
The tendency for performance to initially improve when new technology is instituted, not because of any actual improvement in learning or achievement, but in response to increased interest in the new technology.
Origin
The effect emerged from educational technology research in the mid-20th century, related to the Hawthorne effect. Sociologist Henry Landsberger, in analyzing the Hawthorne studies, suggested that novelty and increased attention cause temporary productivity increases. Clark and Sugrue's review of educational research found that uncontrolled novelty effects cause on average a 30% standard deviation rise (50–63% score rise), decaying to much smaller effects after 8 weeks. The effect explains temporary engagement spikes from new instructional tools.