Engineering Psychology Research Articles

System Methodology as a Conceptual Basis of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary research

The paper is devoted to the methodological tasks of conducting transdisciplinary research of TI, that have been leading to the tasks of integrating the knowledge of various stakeholders. The methodological framework of the study includes a systematic approach, the provisions of knowledge engineering and social psychology. The methodological basis of TI is formulated, the essence of which is the identification, coordination and integration of individual and collective structures of knowledge. The requirements to the procedure of knowledge integration of different stakeholders are defined: to form an understanding of the complexity of problems, to take into account the diversity of the real world and scientific perception of problems, the link of abstract and specific knowledge of a particular situation, the use of the concept of the common good as a regulatory basis for harmonizing multiple values and norms. Conceptual models are considered as an integration tool. The theoretical and practical significance of the study lies in the rationale for the application of methods of joint conceptual modeling as a tool for integration and coordination of various types of knowledge and organization of communication processes in a stakeholders group.

ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ В ДАЛЬНЕВОСТОЧНОМ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ УНИВЕРСИТЕТЕ ПУТЕЙ СООБЩЕНИЯ (К 20-ЛЕТИЮ КАФЕДРЫ ОБЩЕЙ, ЮРИДИЧЕСКОЙ И ИНЖЕНЕРНОЙ ПСИХОЛОГИИ)

The article describes the main stages of the establishment of psychological education at Far Eastern State Transport University, the persons contributing to the formation of the Department «General, Legal and Engineering Psychology». The article also provides reviews of the heads of various organizations in Khabarovsk, university staff, and students about the work of the department.

INFORMATION STRUCTURING FOR SOLVING TASKS IN SPREADSHEET ENVIRONMENT

The calculations required in project activities for engineering students are commonly performed in electronic spreadsheets. Practice has shown that utilizing those calculations could prove to be quite difficult for students of other fields. One of the causes for such situation (as well as partly for problems observed during Java and C programming languages courses) lies in the lack of a streamlined distribution structure for both the source data and the end results. A solution could be found in utilizing a shared approach for information structuring in spreadsheet and software environment, called “the Book Method”, which takes into account the engineering psychology issues regarding the user friendliness of working with electronic information. This method can be applied at different levels in academic institutions and at teacher training courses.

Идеи Е. П. Ильина и их реализация в наших исследованиях

The author describes meeting E. P. Ilyin in 1974 at the All-Union Scientific and Practical Conference devoted to the current issues of physical culture and sport, which was held at the Faculty of Physical Education of Kazan State Pedagogical Institute (where the author worked as a teaching assistant at the Department of Gymnastics). Professor Ilyin and the author established rapport during that memorable first encounter and enjoyed good fellowship since. Fate decreed that in 1978 the author was enrolled as a Doctoral student at the Department of Ergonomics and Engineering Psychology, and Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor Ilyin was appointed as his Thesis Director. In their further research, the author implemented Ilyin’s ideas, i.e. “on the unjustified approach to the assessment of the nervous system properties, dividing them into ‘good’ and ‘bad’, suggested by I. P. Pavlov”; “on indisputable advantages of a ‘weak’ nervous system in certain types of employment activities”; and “on the model of professional skill in the form of a four-sided pyramid”. To determine the strength of the nervous system, Ilyin proposed the “Tapping test” motor technique, which the author of this paper tested for validity. The outcomes of a study conducted by the author in cooperation with two colleagues substantiated the validity of the “Tapping test” as a motor technique for determining the “strength-weakness” of the nervous system. The results of the study were published in 1981 (Tolstov, Tsagarelli, Fukin 1981). Long-term research conducted by the author revealed that employees with a monotone-resistant typological complex, where a “weak” nervous system is the underlying factor, have a distinct advantage in performing repetitive activities (Fukin 2003). In accordance with Ilyin’s model, the author identified professional orientation, skills (competence), knowledge, and professional traits as the pillars of success in the professional activities of fitters employed in conveyor method production. The author’s research results suggest that the employer who possesses all the listed components of professional activity becomes an authoritative expert in his profession and a recognised craftsman (Fukin 2003).

В поисках единиц анализа исполнительной деятельности

The paper describes studies of executive actions carried out by Vladimir Zinchenko in the 1970s and 80s at the Faculty of Psychology at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Conceptual development of the activity theory implied reaching the micro-levels of activity processes in order to determine the minimal units of analysis. Executive action, flexible and adaptive in response to various changes of conditions, was obviously an attractive choice for experimenting. Luckily enough, it turned out there were certain parties interested in such experiments at that time — specialized scientific research institutes (‘NII’) whose heads were concerned with increasing the effectiveness of activity in human-operators. This led to a technological re-equipment of research laboratories of the Faculty of Psychology at the MSU in the 1970s. Supported by computers, several groups of psychologists from the Chair of General Psychology, Chair of Psychophysiol- ogy and Chair of Work and Engineering Psychology initiated a series of studies. A number of temporary project laboratories were created, three of which happened to be under direct or indirect conceptual and managerial influence of V.P. Zinchenko. This paper outlines the main outcomes of a research on data entry actions that involved a short-term quantitative measurement of individuals’ memory image of computer keyboard layout.

Концепт «Состояние» в немецкоязычном профессиональном дискурсе инженерной психологии

Концепт «Состояние» в немецкоязычном профессиональном дискурсе инженерной психологии

Gestalt principles of creating learning business ontologies for knowledge codification

This paper presents an approach aimed at creating business ontologies for knowledge codification in company. It is based on the principles of ontological engineering and cognitive psychology. Ontologies that describe the main concepts of knowledge are used both for knowledge creation and codification. The proposed framework is targeted at the development of methodologies that can scaffold the process of knowledge structuring and orchestrating for better understanding and knowledge sharing. The orchestrating procedure is the kernel of ontology development. The main stress is put on using visual techniques of mind mapping. Cognitive bias and some results of Gestalt psychology are highlighted as a general guideline. The ideas of balance, clarity, and beauty are applied to the ontology orchestrating procedures. The examples are taken mainly from the project management practice. The paper contributes to managerial practice by describing the practical recommendations for effective knowledge management based on ontology engineering and knowledge structuring techniques.

The interplay of knowledge engineering and cognitive psychology: learning ontologies creating

The paper tries to marry cognitive issues of knowledge engineering and knowledge management in order to provide a new methodology for initial knowledge structuring. Ontology was chosen as the contemporary most comprehensive knowledge representation and codification model. Our approach uses participatory action research project in which some hypotheses about the relations between the cognitive style and ontology development are suggested. The methodology used simple, affordable technologies such as pen-and-pencil techniques for visual structuring experiments. The paper is aimed to integrate cognitive style individual features of knowledge analysts into the specifics of ontology design. It was found that personal peculiarities of cognitive style affect the topology and quality of knowledge structures. These findings provide some implications for collaborative ontology design and development. The knowledge structuring issues derived in this project can be used by managers and practitioners to address knowledge work and organisational learning.

Information Types and Display Methods according to the Relation between Frequency of Exposure and Degree of Cognition

Information types and display methods according to the relation between frequency of exposure and degree of cognition was suggested by this study as a way to enhance effective communication by information in aspect of user cognition. First of all, we ascertained the relation between frequency of exposure and degree of cognition by literature research for cognitive psychology and cognitive engineering psychology, results are as follows based in it. First, we suggested information types and attributes for visualization as 'Framework' which helps designers understand cognitive demands of users. Specifically, there are 4 types(STM, STA, LTM, LTA) of information according to the relation between frequency of exposure and degree of cognition, cognitive characteristics for each types and 'attributes matrix for visualization' which is consisted of 14 attributes of high -quality information and resorted by the types. Second, we suggested a guideline for display methods according to depth of information in the design process of information contents. For display methods of STM, STA information as primary information, we suggested Attribution theory of Distinctiveness, Advance Organizer, Progress Closure, Affordance, for display methods of LTM information as multidimensional information, we suggested Modularity, Consistency, Mimicry, Mnemonic Device. We had found from this study that there are distinction of status for attributes of information visualization according to information types or depth, and various display methods by them.

Exploring the Cognitive Foundations of Software Engineering

It is recognized that software is a unique abstract artifact that does not obey any known physical laws. For software engineering to become a matured engineering discipline like others, it must establish its own theoretical framework and laws, which are perceived to be mainly relied on cognitive informatics and denotational mathematics, supplementing to computing science, information science, and formal linguistics. This paper analyzes the basic properties of software and seeks the cognitive informatics foundations of software engineering. The nature of software is characterized by its informatics, behavioral, mathematical, and cognitive properties. The cognitive informatics foundations of software engineering are explored on the basis of the informatics laws of software and software engineering psychology. A set of fundamental cognitive constraints of software engineering, such as intangibility, complexity, indeterminacy, diversity, polymorphism, inexpressiveness, inexplicit embodiment, and unquantifiable quality measures, is identified. The conservative productivity of software is revealed based on the constraints of human cognitive capacity.

Are business schools studying and teaching the right things?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the importance of services as a subject for scientific research and teaching. Services represent the majority of the world economy but universities and business schools have not generally considered services to be an appropriate subject for scientific research and teaching. With the help of industry, universities and business schools need to bring together a variety of current academic disciplines, including engineering, statistics, management theory, and human psychology, to develop a formal, interdisciplinary curriculum around service science. It is imperative that we do this to drive much needed service innovation and to equip graduates for the jobs of tomorrow.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on first‐hand experience of working with over 50 universities from around the world which are developing service science as an academic discipline and research topic.FindingsThe paper finds that the number of business schools and universities running service science on their curriculum is on the rise. By being part of the Service Science, Management and Engineering (SSME) academic initiative, business schools and universities are enabling their graduates to benefit from the swiftly growing service sector and strengthening their linkages with business.Originality/valueThis paper sets out to inspire academic and business school leaders to find out more about SSME.

Academic Skills of Engineering Psychology Majors: A Comparative Study

Shattuck (2001) described the Engineering Psychology program at West Point and how its graduates are prepared to work in interdisciplinary design teams. The current research assessed the academic skills of senior Engineering Psychology cadets in ten basic areas, and compared them with similar measures taken among freshmen and senior leadership and management majors at the academy. Results indicated significant differences among the groups in seven areas including information gathering, groups/organizations, interpersonal, behavior management, critical thinking, research methods, and ethics/values. In general, seniors reported more developed skills than freshmen, and Engineering Psychology majors reported more research-related skills than Leadership and Management majors. Implications for program evaluation and development are discussed.

Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics, volume 4, Job design, product design and human‐computer interaction

Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics, volume 4, Job design, product design and human‐computer interaction

Validating Undergraduate Human Factors Education Using Interdisciplinary Design Projects

Traditional undergraduate and graduate human factors programs provide students with an excellent education in the theories, tools, and methods used by professional practitioners. However, most programs confine students to projects that can be completed in a ‘pure’ human factors environment. Human factors professionals rarely work in a ‘pure’ environment; in most cases they are part of interdisciplinary design teams. Faculty in the Engineering Psychology program at the United States Military Academy worked with other academic departments to develop four interdisciplinary design projects. Seven students in the Engineering Psychology program served as the human factors ‘experts’ on four different semester design projects, which were completed in May 2001. They used their knowledge of human factors methods and practices to enrich the process and products of the design team. Concurrently, they experienced the challenges of working with student-practitioners from other disciplines. Data were collected through interviews and assessment of written products to determine the degree to which participation in the design teams validated the human factors education received by the Engineering Psychology students.

Special Section Preface for Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics

(2001). Special Section Preface for Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics. International Journal of Cognitive Ergonomics: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 185-185.

Test and Evaluation: The Changing Nature of our Scientific Knowledge

Traditionally, human factors/ergonomics professionals, especially in the United States, use concepts and methods derived from engineering and experimental psychology, both of which are rooted in the conceptual framework of classical, seventeenth-century, Newtonian physics. As a result, our conceptual foundations emphasize reductionism and determinism. However, we need to update these conceptual foundations to reflect the reality of the science of today. Concepts such as holism demand re-thinking the structure of scientific knowledge; principles such as uncertainty have profound implications concerning observation and measurement; and principles such as complementarity require re-examination of the nature of scientific explanation. Many variables of interest to Test and Evaluation (T&E) professionals can be investigated using concepts and methods derived from the physical sciences, the life sciences, and/or the human sciences. However, the science used will profoundly influence the available explanatory concepts and the resulting explanations. Thus, in addition to defining the questions to be asked, T&E professionals need also to consider the kind of science to be used in each investigation.

On the Description and Definition of Human Factors/Ergonomics

This work examines the terms most frequently used to describe our field, which has variously been named Ergonomics, Human Factors, Human Factors Engineering, and Engineering Psychology. A large number of definitions were collected, including those assembled in an earlier technical report by Licht, Polzella, and Boff (1990). First, the definitions were stripped of connector words. Second, the prefix root terms that had the same meaning were combined and third, the words were tabulated and sorted to reveal the content terms most frequently employed. These data may be used to develop core, concise definitions or longer more expository descriptions of the field. The list of terms could also be used as a starting point for the development of definitions oriented for different target audiences (e.g., lay persons vs. other engineering/science experts) as a method of disseminating information concerning what we do.

The Factor of Significance in the Operator's Activity

Activity theory has important applications in Russian engineering psychology and ergonomics. From the point of view of the activity approach, the operator is considered a subject who acts voluntarily within a man-machine system. The operator does not simply react to different stimuli, but considers updated input information to form different goals, according to personal motives, and then develops particular strategies to achieve these goals. The major units of analysis become actions performed by the operator. The factor of significance is important for the selection and development of various strategies for the operator.

Human Error, Engineering Psychology and System Safety

Abstract In this paper we examine engineering psychology accounts of human error and illustrate techniques for successful intervention in system operations to reduce the potential for error. While it is not possible to entirely eliminate human error, we propose that many accidents are the result of system design which has not paid sufficient attention to the human costs of automation.

Engineering psychology: contribution to system safety

There has been a growing interest in the area of engineering psychology. This article considers some of the major accidents which have occurred in recent years, and the contribution which engineering psychology makes to designing systems and enhancing safety. Accidents are usually multi-causal, and the resident pathogens in the design and operation of human-machine systems can lead to devastating consequences not only for the workers themselves but also for people in the surrounding communities. Specifically, in each of the accidents discussed, operators were unaware of the seriousness of the system malfunctions because warning displays were poorly designed or located, and operators had not been sufficiently trained in dealing with these emergency situations. Since the 1940s machines and equipment have become more complex in nearly every industry. This, coupled with the continuing need to produce effective and safe systems, has resulted in psychology professionals being called to assist in designing even more efficient operating systems. In earlier times, a worker who made a mistake might spoil a piece of work or waste some time. Today, however, a worker's erroneous action can lead to dire consequences.