Human Factors Methods for Design: Making Systems Human-Centered

by Nemeth; Christopher P.

• ISBN13: 9780415297981
• ISBN10: 0415297982
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781134429202
• Additional ISBN(s): 9781134429219
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-02-17
• Publisher: CRC Press
• More Book Details

Summary

There is no shortage of available human factors information, but until now there was no single guide on how to use this information. Human Factors Methods for Design: Making Systems Human-Centered is an in-depth field guide to solving human factors challenges in the development process. It provides design and human factors professionals, systems engineers, and research and development managers with the orientation, process, and methods to perform human-centered research.The book delivers an overview of human factors and the application of research to product and service development. It enables the reader to define a design opportunity, develop product goals, and establish criteria to meet those goals. The text offers a road map for collecting and analyzing human performance information, applying that information to the creation of solutions, and using the information to evaluate potential solutions.The book demonstrates, in three sections, a way to design products that extend, amplify, and enhance human capabilities. Human Factors Practice explains research context including the operational environment and internal and external influences. Human Factors Methods explains how to perform a wide variety of procedures for human-oriented research and development. Application demonstrates how to put the results to use.

Author Biography

Christopher P. Nemeth, M.S. Design, CHFP, manages his own design, human factors and expert witness consulting practice

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	ix
Foreword	xii
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xix
Abbreviations	xxi
PART I Human factors practice	1	(124)
1 The human-made environment
1.1 The systems model	4	(6)
1.2 Requirements	10	(5)
1.3 Life cycle	15	(1)
1.4 The development process	16	(7)
1.5 System issues	23	(2)
1.6 Human factors practice	25	(7)
1.7 Summary	32	(1)
2 Human abilities and limits	33	(34)
2.1 Human roles	34	(2)
2.2 Input	36	(4)
2.3 Mediation	40	(7)
2.4 Output	47	(4)
2.5 Response to environment	51	(6)
2.6 Motivation	57	(1)
2.7 Adaptation	58	(1)
2.8 Human erroneous actions, or error	59	(5)
2.9 Group versus individual	64	(1)
2.10 Summary	65	(2)
3 How we think about development problems	67	(13)
3.1 Reasoning	68	(1)
3.2 Philosophical thought	69	(2)
3.3 Intelligence	71	(1)
3.4 Problem solving behavior	72	(3)
3.5 Impediments to problem solving	75	(3)
3.6 Summary	78	(2)
4 What influences development?	80	(19)
4.1 Problems and opportunities	80	(4)
4.2 Influences on research and development	84	(4)
4.3 Process	88	(6)
4.4 Rapid prototyping	94	(2)
4.5 Personal conduct	96	(2)
4.6 Summary	98	(1)
5 Human factors in research and development	99	(26)
5.1 Applied human factors research	100	(4)
5.2 Observation	104	(7)
5.3 Inferential studies	111	(7)
5.4 How to choose methods	118	(5)
5.5 Summary	123	(2)
PART II Human factors methods	125	(194)
6 Analysis methods	127	(34)
6.1 Pareto analysis	128	(3)
6.2 Operational analysis ('mission analysis')	131	(4)
6.3 Analysis of similar systems	135	(2)
6.4 Activity analysis	137	(5)
6.5 Verbal protocol analysis ('thinking aloud', 'directed dialog')	142	(3)
6.6 Critical incident study	145	(4)
6.7 Management oversight and risk tree analysis (MORT)	149	(3)
6.8 Error analysis	152	(4)
6.9 Root cause analysis	156	(4)
6.10 Summary	160	(1)
7 Design guidance methods	161	(57)
7.1 Flow analysis	164	(8)
7.2 Time line analysis	172	(3)
7.3 Link analysis	175	(5)
7.4 Function allocation	180	(7)
7.5 Task description ('task identification')	187	(3)
7.6 Task analysis	190	(5)
7.7 Cognitive task analysis	195	(7)
7.8 Technique for human error rate prediction (THERP)	202	(6)
7.9 Work design	208	(4)
7.10 Decision analysis	212	(4)
7.11 Summary	216	(2)
8 Evaluation methods	218	(29)
8.1 Simulation	219	(5)
8.2 Fault tree analysis	224	(5)
8.3 Failure modes and effects analysis	229	(4)
8.4 Operational sequence analysis	233	(4)
8.5 Workload assessment	237	(8)
8.6 Summary	245	(2)
9 Surveys: interviews and questionnaires	247	(17)
9.1 Questionnaires	248	(4)
9.2 Interviews	252	(8)
9.3 Self-administered questionnaires	260	(1)
9.4 Bias, presumption and non-response	261	(1)
9.5 Summary	262	(2)
10 Usability assessment	264	(20)
10.1 Usability	264	(1)
10.2 Usability assessment methods	265	(3)
10.3 Usability testing	268	(13)
10.4 Usability benefits and issues	281	(1)
10.5 Summary	282	(2)
11 Controlled studies	284	(35)
11.1 Basic controlled studies	285	(11)
11.2 Process	296	(2)
11.3 Experimental design	298	(8)
11.4 Inferential study	306	(10)
11.5 Summary	316	(3)
PART III Application	319	(54)
12 Cost-effectiveness	321	(11)
12.1 Value	321	(2)
12.2 Cost-benefit analysis	323	(1)
12.3 Cost-effectiveness	324	(3)
12.4 Determining cost-effectiveness	327	(2)
12.5 Application to practice	329	(2)
12.6 Summary	331	(1)
13 Effecting change	332	(12)
13.1 Research and development is change	332	(1)
13.2 Working relationships	333	(1)
13.3 Traits for change	334	(2)
13.4 Change management	336	(1)
13.5 Change evolution	337	(2)
13.6 The change process	339	(1)
13.7 Example	340	(3)
13.8 Summary	343	(1)
14 Communication	344	(9)
14.1 Purpose	345	(1)
14.2 Nature of research and development communications	345	(3)
14.3 Types of human factors communications	348	(4)
14.4 Summary	352	(1)
15 Examples	353	(20)
15.1 Bus workstation	353	(5)
15.2 International currency exchange	358	(3)
15.3 Web site design	361	(1)
15.4 Remote site collaborative communications tool	362	(2)
15.5 Sharps disposal container	364	(3)
15.6 Infusion pump	367	(3)
15.7 Reference laboratory assay system	370	(3)
Notes	373	(1)
Appendix	374	(5)
Bibliography	379	(9)
Index	388