DEVELOPMENT OF TESTS TO MEASURE THE UTILIZATION OF HUMAN FACTORS INFORMATION BY DESIGNERS.
Abstract
The report describes three 4-hour tests developed to determine how human factors information is utilized by designers. It is assumed that greater knowledge of the design process will enable human factors (and other) specialists to communicate more adequately with design personnel and in particular will improve the characteristics of human engineering handbooks written for designers. An appendix to this report presents a theory of design activity in behavioral terms. The tests consist of a series of design problems to which designers must respond by developing conceptual sketches and answering questions concerning the manner in which they use available information. In the first type of test (Design Product Tests I and II) the subject is given system requirements and asked to lay out an equipment which will satisfy those requirements. In the second type of test (Design Input Test) the subject is given a series of design problems and asked what information he needs and how he would use that information to solve these problems. The difference between the tests is largely a matter of the approach taken; the Design Product Tests represent a longitudinal attack on the designer's behavior, since they cover all of the latter's activity from presentation of the problem to its resolution. The Design Input Test concentrates on individual aspects of the design problem and the designer's analysis of pertinent information. The tests are given individually.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 16, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0626638
Entities
People
- David Meister
- Donald E. Farr