Research Needs for Human Factors (1983) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pages 140-163
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 140... ...
Hennessy. It is based on a workshop on applied methods held in December 1981 under the sponsorship of the Committee on Human Factors.
|
From page 141... ...
Other methods, such as the critical incident technique and link analysis, appear to have been created by human factors specialists to meet their needs in solving particular problems. Whatever their origins, applied methods have been developed as tools to help answer questions when there are constraints of time, dollars, and freedom of action and when experimental methods are not suitable to answer the questions that arise in system development.
|
From page 142... ...
Input Data for 0 Preliminary Manning Levels 0 Equipment Procedures o SkillJTraining Requirements o Communication Requirements 4. Critical Human Performance 5.
|
From page 143... ...
Obtained o Criteria for Acceptable Performance 3.2.4.3 Failure Analysis (Human Error Factors) 3.2.5 Cognizance and Coordination ( Interdisciplinary Integration )
|
From page 144... ...
The importance of applied methods in human factors work is clear from the number of technical reports and journal articles that discuss one or more applied methods. Two recent reports (Williges and Topmiller, 1980; Geer, 1981)
|
From page 145... ...
the lack of research to improve existing methods and to develop new methods that will provide the data and information needed in current and future practical human factors work. DOCUMENTATION OF APPLIED METHODS The practical work of human factors specialists, unlike scientific research, does not result in an orderly progression and an orderly accumulation of knowledge.
|
From page 146... ...
Other purposes of the review would be to structure or codify the methods and to document them for subsequent educational and research purposes. It would also be extremely valuable to practitioners, educators, and researchers in human factors to have a compendium that codifies and provides standard or generic descr iptions of applied methods that are used in practical human factors work.
|
From page 147... ...
In the meantime, additional documentation and research to extend or refine the standard methods can be carried out. In the course of compiling a reasonably comprehensive list of the most generally known applied methods (see Figure 3)
|
From page 148... ...
SURVEY OF HUMAN FACTORS SPECIALISTS ON APPLIED METHODS Because of the dearth of information on the variety and use of applied methods in human factors work we recommend a survey of human factors practitioners concerned with the acquisition, design, development, and evaluation or modification of equipment and systems. Such a survey would determine the importance and frequency of use of existing applied methods in their work; the kind of information most needed in human factors application" for which existing applied methodologies are inadequate or nonexistent; and the methods for which descriptions and guidance for use are most needed.
|
From page 149... ...
Control Theory Accuracy Theory Predetermined Time Analysis Readability Indices EVAI UATION Test Plan Evaluation Simulation Mock-Ups Walk m roughs Check Diets Ratings FIGURE 7-3 Generally Known Applied Methods Categorized by Purpose according to the priorities of importance and frequency of use derived from the survey. Information from the survey would be useful in shaping human factors curricula in colleges and universities so that students can be trained in applied methods that they will subsequently need on the job.
|
From page 150... ...
EDUCATION IN APPLIED MODS Education in Colleges and Univers ities The absence of codif fed information and the lack of easy access to source reports inhibits instruction in applied methods at colleges and univers ities that of fer degree programs or courses in the f ield of human factors. General human f actors textbooks g ive at best only a cursory overview of a few applied methods and present case study examples that highlight the substantive issues and results rather than the methods.
|
From page 151... ...
The problem of inadequate methodological preparation in formal education extends to the work setting. At present it appears that many presumably well-trained human factors specialists work without adequate knowledge of applied methods, and what knowledge they do have about these methods is acquired on the job.
|
From page 152... ...
These tutorials could directly benefit human factors specialists employed by the government as well as those employed by civilian organizations that develop equipment and systems for the government. It is therefore recommended that initial tutorials on applied methods be developed and conducted under the sponsorship of one or more government agencies.
|
From page 153... ...
ffl ere are a number of other specific concerns relevant to the form and development of a tutorial on applied methods. Experience has shown tutorials to be only the first step in learning to use a particular technique properly.
|
From page 154... ...
RESEARCH ON APPLIED METHODS Each applied method was originated to fill some particular need for information to support system design, evaluation, or problem analysis. Through a succession of repeated, successful use in different contexts, methods have evolved and have become known and accepted as tools of the trade in human factors work.
|
From page 155... ...
Improvement and Extension of Existing Applied Methods AS previously discussed, fundamental problems are the lack of documented def initions and descriptions of existing applied methods and the lack of knowledge about what information is needed in human factors work. Documentation and survey work is necessary to provide baseline descr iptions and to help identify the particular problems and shortcomings of existing methods.
|
From page 156... ...
SUMMARY There is a serious disparity between the importance of applied methodologies for human factors work, particularly systems and equipment design, and the efforts being made to document and codify them in a standard manner; to educate behavioral so fence and engineering students in their use in colleges and uniters ities; to provide continuing education in applied methods to working human factors specialists; and to engage in research to improve existing applied methodologies and develop new ones. It is of great importance to document what is currently known about applied methods .
|
From page 157... ...
· Human factors practitioners should be surveyed to determine the importance and f requency of use of existing applied methods in their work; the kinds of information most needed in human factors applications for which existing applied methods are inadequate or nonexistent; and methods for which they require descriptions and guidance for use. · Tutorials on applied methods should be developed to meet the continuing educational needs of human factors specialists.
|
From page 158... ...
158 Me inter, D ~ 1980 Human Factors for the Future-Trends and Speculations. In Proceedings of Symposium on Human Factors in Systems Development: Experience and Trends.
|
From page 159... ...
The feasibility of performing required tasks within the required time; 3. Antecedent hardware and operations conditions to ensure that the requirements of each task element are met; 4.
|
From page 160... ...
160 Workload demands, by comparing time requirements to complete a task series to the time available for completion within the constraints of a given system. Information Analysis Information analysis identifies information and its flow through a system, usually an perceived from a user's viewpoint.
|
From page 161... ...
v, _ 4) supervisory control systems; 5)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.