Investigating Human Factors and Ergonomics research: a 4S framework

Area of Science:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE)
• Applied Psychology
• Systems Engineering

Background:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) has historical roots in specialized fields, including military applications.
• The extent to which contemporary HFE research continues to address these critical special domains remains under-examined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) research focused on special domains between 2011 and 2023.
• To evaluate the methodologies, settings, and populations utilized in HFE studies targeting specialized environments.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of articles published in 'Ergonomics' and 'Human Factors' journals from 2011 to 2023.
• Application of the 4S framework (special environments, machines, tasks, humans) to categorize research characteristics.
• Analysis of study settings (low-fidelity vs. real-world), machine involvement, task types, operator representation, and research collaborations.

Main Results:

• Less than one-third of reviewed articles addressed special domains, primarily healthcare, military, and aviation.
• Nearly half of these studies utilized low-fidelity environments, with only about 10% conducted in real-world settings.
• Skill-based tasks dominated experimental designs, while real machines and front-line operators were included in 18.1% and ~50% of studies, respectively. One-third involved academic-industry collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) research in special domains is relatively scarce, with a significant reliance on simulated environments.
• There is a need to increase the use of real-world settings and authentic operational contexts to enhance the ecological validity of HFE research in specialized fields.
• The findings highlight opportunities for improving the relevance and impact of HFE research for critical operational domains.