How might we write about (the) human factor(s)?

Abstract

The expressions the human factor and human factors are sometimes used synonymously but also may have different meanings or at the very least different tones. Chapanis (1965) suggested that the human factors community should pay close attention to the “language of human engineering itself.” This attention should not only focus on fine-tuning verbose dialog and relaying complex concepts in simple terms but also should consider the divergent meanings behind expressions and how these may frame viewpoints and dialog. Explanations and interpretations draw from philosophies and shape conversations, and associated work. In this paper, we draw attention to diverse uses and meanings of the human factor and human factors describing how these differences may influence communication and approaches to work.