The Etienne Grandjean Memorial Lecture Situated cognition and action: implications for ergonomic work analysis and anthropotechnology

Abstract

Abstract After a short history of the study of work activities, the methodology of Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA) is described and the diversity of practices is underlined. The methodology of analysis of activities involves exhaustive checks of the behaviour of operators in critical situations and confronts the operator with his own behaviour in order to obtain pertinent explanations and evoke the cognitive unconscious. Ethnological work may constitute a contribution as regards the choice of the operator(s) whose behaviour is the most significant for the problem posed. In the same way, ethnologists using recording tools that are similar to those of ergonomists offer interesting frameworks for discussion of the qualities of these tools and the posture and balance aspects of behaviour. Moreover, interpersonal communications lead to beneficial exchanges with the ethnographic experience. Although the American school of situated cognition (cognitive and psychological anthropology) is very useful to know for act...