Human Factors research from HSI® leads to a better understanding of how individuals or teams interact with each other or with existing or emerging technologies. The scope of Human Factors research can vary widely.
For example:
- How do teams make decisions under stress?
- What user needs to consider during development of protective clothing?
HSI® Human Factors consultants have strong applied research skills. Human Factors research can vary considerably in scope and duration, but confidence in any research depends on the method and rigour used to conduct it. HSI® Human Factors consultants use their skills to design and conduct research in which you can have confidence and clearly communicate their results and any limitations.
During development and procurement, research needs to be timely, low cost, and well focused. Unexpected questions often emerge that require a fast turn-around. HSI® Human Factors consultants can provide prompt research answers using appropriate scientific controls to ensure confidence in the answers.
Examples include:
- Searching for past studies to predict challenges and suggest solutions.
- Comparison of interface options under controlled conditions to select the best.
Longer term applied research can take a more measured approach. An example is the HSI® three year research program to understand how trust is formed and maintained within small military teams.
Trust research started with a search for and critical review of relevant existing scientific literature to build on past work by others, focus future work and prevent wasteful duplication of effort. This work by others is being expanded with new data from individual and group interviews and questionnaire surveys. The HSI® research team is conducting carefully controlled field and simulator studies to show how existing and new teams approach different tasks, and to confirm the relevance of past findings for the military context.
Clear, concise reports explain the practical implications for team structure, formation and training, as well as for team related technologies. With the agreement of the client, conference presentations and technical journal articles share the work with a wider audience of other organizations outside the military.
