Relevance and Representativeness in HFE Research

Abstract

As part of a continuing program of research into HFE research characteristics (Meister, 1997), papers published in the 1996 and 1997 HFES Proceedings were analyzed in terms of two constructs: relevance and representativeness. These are of course evaluative criteria, and there may be those who believe that the evaluation of research is unwarranted, because the only research obligation is to add to the science knowledge base. This criterion, however, does not discriminate between good and poor research, unless one believes that all research, however trivial, is worthwhile.