Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study examined the response stereotype for turning a key to unlock a door. Biomechanical research suggests that, when force has to be applied with the right hand to rotary control, then a clockwise response is likely. 108 right-handed subjects (55 male, 53 female) were asked to turn a key to unlock a box. 56 subjects were asked to use the left hand and 52 the right hand. Each subject unlocked the box only in one of four key-to-door configurations: top-centre, bottom-centre, left-centre, right-centre. Regardless of sex, hand, or configuration, approximately 80% of responses were clockwise. When using the left hand, all subjects employing a clockwise movement changed the initial grip from pronation to supination. All subjects used a combined wrist and forearm turning movement rather than a finger and thumb movement.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bradley

J. B.

Direction-of-knob-turn stereotypes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1959, 43, 21–24.

Hazelton

F. T.

Smidt

G. L.

Flatt

A. E.

Stephen

R. I.

The influence of wrist position on the force produced by the finger flexors. Journal of Biomechanics, 1975, 8, 301–306.

Kay

Determination of a population stereotype for turning a vertically mounted door-handle (1958).

Cited in Murrell

K. F. H.

(Ed.), Ergonomics: man in his working environment. London: Chapman & Hall, 1965.

Loveless

N. E.

Direction of motion stereotypes: a review. Ergonomics, 1962, 5, 357–383.

Murrell

K. F. H.

Ergonomics: man in his working environment. London: Chapman & Hall, 1965.

Petropoulos

Brebner

Stereotypes for direction-of-movement of rotary controls associated with linear displays: the effects of scale presence and position, of pointer direction, and distances between the control and the display. Ergonomics, 1981, 24, 2, 143–151.

Tichauer

E. R.

The biomechanical basis of ergonomics: anatomy applied to the design of work situations. New York: Wiley, 1978. Pp. 38–42.

Warrick

M. J.

Direction of movement in the use of control knobs to position visual indicators. In Fitts

P. M.

(Ed.), Psychological research in equipment design. Washington, D. C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1947. Pp. 137–146.

10.

Warwick

Williams

P. L.

(Eds.) Gray's ‘Anatomy.’ (35th ed.) Norwich, Great Britain: Jarrold, 1973. Pp. 433–435.

11.

Youm

Dryer

R. F.

Thambyrajah

Flatt

A. E.

Sprague

G. L.

Biomechanical analysis of forearm pronation-supination and elbow flexion-extension. Journal of Biomechanics, 1979, 12, 245–255.

Response Stereotypes for Rotary Controls Involving the Application of Force

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References