A Methodology for Conducting Human Factors Evaluations of Vehicles in Operational Field Tests

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to initiate the development of a standardized methodology for use in conducting human factors evaluations of trucks and similar vehicles within the context of operational field tests. The methodology focuses on the assessment of users' (drivers') judgments of the vehicles being evaluated and allows for the differential weighting of individual human factors characteristics. The methodology is presented, including recommended statistical analysis procedures. The key to the methodology is the Human Factors Vehicular Evaluation Instrument which is an interview form containing eighty-five human factors characteristics relevant to vehicle design and operation. Data is presented from the initial utilization of the methodology in an operational field test.