Theory versus practice in the human factors and ergonomics discipline: Trends in journal publications from 1960 to 2010.

The research-practice gap has been highlighted as a barrier to effective practice in human factors and ergonomics (HFE). There is also evidence of a theory-research gap that may be limiting the scientific evidence base of HFE. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in journal publications, especially relating to the research-practice gap and the involvement of theory over time. A content analysis was conducted on 425 journal articles published in Human Factors, Ergonomics, and Applied Ergonomics from 1960 to 2010. Results showed evidence of growth in applied research with increasing collaborative research between research and industry, larger research teams, and more empirical research-especially on applied problems. While there has been a corresponding increase in the involvement of theory in HFE publications, around half of the publications failed to acknowledge theory. This calls into question whether the HFE discipline may be missing the benefits of theory to guide research and subsequent practice, and to enhance the development of new ideas.

[1]  Patrick Waterson,et al.  Recurrent themes and developments in the history of the Ergonomics Society , 2006, Ergonomics.

[2]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  An assessment system for rating scientific journals in the field of ergonomics and human factors. , 2004, Applied ergonomics.

[3]  Bertrand Russell.  The scientific outlook , 1962 .

[4]  A Chapanis,et al.  The relevance of laboratory studies to practical situations. , 1967, Ergonomics.

[5]  Mica R. Endsley.  Situation awareness: operationally necessary and scientifically grounded , 2015, Cognition, Technology & Work.

[6]  John R Wilson,et al.  Fundamentals of systems ergonomics/human factors. , 2014, Applied ergonomics.

[7]  Barrett S. Caldwell.  The Learning-Friendly Classroom: The educational process is enhanced when human factors principles are integrated into classroom design , 1994 .

[8]  Mark S. Sanders,et al.  Human Factors in Engineering and Design , 2016 .

[9]  Erik S. Connors,et al.  Situation awareness: State of the art , 2008, 2008 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting - Conversion and Delivery of Electrical Energy in the 21st Century.

[10]  Basia Belza,et al.  From Research to Practice: EnhanceFitness, an Innovative Community-Based Senior Exercise Program , 2010 .

[11]  J R Wilson,et al.  Fundamentals of ergonomics in theory and practice. , 2000, Applied ergonomics.

[12]  A. Chapanis.  Some Generalizations about Generalization , 1988 .

[13]  A. Mulhall,et al.  Bridging the research-practice gap: exploring the research cultures of practitioners and managers. , 1998, Journal of Advanced Nursing.

[14]  Neville A Stanton,et al.  Designing sociotechnical systems with cognitive work analysis: putting theory back into practice , 2015, Ergonomics.

[15]  W Karwowski,et al.  Ergonomics and human factors: the paradigms for science, engineering, design, technology and management of human-compatible systems , 2005, Ergonomics.

[16]  David Meister,et al.  The History of Human Factors and Ergonomics , 1999 .

[17]  Jan Dul,et al.  The Position and Success of Certified European Ergonomists , 2005 .

[18]  Steven T. Shorrock,et al.  The research-practice relationship in ergonomics and human factors – surveying and bridging the gap , 2011, Ergonomics.

[19]  Sarah McNicol.  Is research an untapped resource in the library and information profession? , 2004, J. Libr. Inf. Sci..

[20]  Paula Sind-Prunier.  Bridging the Research/Practice Gap: Human Factors Practitioners' Opportunity for Input to Define Research for the Rest of the Decade , 1996 .

[21]  Ken Eason,et al.  ‘1966 and all that’: Trends and developments in UK ergonomics during the 1960s , 2009, Ergonomics.

[22]  W. T. Singleton.  Introduction to ergonomics , 1972 .

[23]  Pierre Falzon,et al.  A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: developing the discipline and profession , 2012, Ergonomics.

[24]  Wayne F. Cascio,et al.  Research in industrial and organizational psychology from 1963 to 2007: changes, choices, and trends. , 2008, The Journal of applied psychology.

[25]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  Objective and Subjective Rankings of Scientific Journals in the Field of Ergonomics: 2004-2005 , 2005 .

[26]  Eduardo Salas.  At the Turn of the 21st Century: Reflections on Our Science , 2008, Hum. Factors.

[27]  Patricia A. Chalmers,et al.  The role of cognitive theory in human-computer interface , 2003, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[28]  Robert C. Williges.  Personal Reflections From the Fifth Editor of Human Factors , 2008, Hum. Factors.

[29]  Neville A Stanton,et al.  Exploring schema-driven differences in situation awareness between road users: an on-road study of driver, cyclist and motorcyclist situation awareness , 2014, Ergonomics.

[30]  Sara L. Rynes,et al.  EDITOR'S AFTERWORD LET'S CREATE A TIPPING POINT: WHAT ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS CAN DO, ALONE AND TOGETHER , 2007 .

[31]  Beyond Human Error , 2006 .

[32]  Ann Williamson,et al.  What do human factors and ergonomics professionals value in research publications? Re-examining the research–practice gap , 2014, Ergonomics.

[33]  Kenneth G. Brown,et al.  HR professionals' beliefs about effective human resource practices: Correspondence between research and practice. , 2002 .

[34]  Christopher D. Wickens,et al.  An introduction to human factors engineering , 1997 .

[35]  Neil Anderson,et al.  The practitioner‐researcher divide in Industrial, Work and Organizational (IWO) psychology: Where are we now, and where do we go from here? , 2001 .

[36]  G. Gelade.  But what does it mean in practice? The Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology from a practitioner perspective , 2006 .

[37]  William C. Howell.  Human Factors in the 1990s: Sealing Transition Cracks , 2008, Hum. Factors.

[38]  D Caple,et al.  Emerging challenges to the ergonomics domain , 2008, Ergonomics.

[39]  Neville Moray,et al.  The Good, the Bad, and the Future: On the Archaeology of Ergonomics , 2008, Hum. Factors.

[40]  G. R. J. Hockey.  From theory to practice: commentary on Bartlett (1962) , 2008, Ergonomics.