Human Factors and Design Factors: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Abstract

Since its emergence, the field of human factors has been engaged in an ongoing debate regarding the scientific essence of the discipline. Many observers believe that the crux of the debate centers upon the link between human factors and design factors, or performance-design interaction. Presenters in this symposium offer a series of perspectives on this theme, in relation to: (1) emphasis on behavioral considerations in design of complex automated systems (Meister); (2) emphasis on contextual specificity in teaching of design (Moray); (3) an ecological analysis of human-environment interaction as an integrated system (Flach); and (4) core principles of human factors science centered upon performance-design interaction (Smith).

The rationale for this symposium rests upon the widespread belief that the relationship between performance and design represents the defining issue of human factors science. That is, through its focus on functional integration of performance and design, human factors departs from the traditional dissected treatment of these phenomena by psychology and engineering. Therefore, the status of human factors science as an integral discipline may be considered to rest upon the answer to the question of how and why human behavior and performance vary in relation to design factors in the performance environment. Papers presented in this symposium provide insight into this question from a number of different perspectives.