Muddling between science and engineering: an epistemic strategy for developing human factors and ergonomics as a hybrid discipline

ABSTRACT

Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) recognises itself as a design-driven, systemic and scientific discipline geared towards well-being and performance. Being a scientific discipline and design-oriented requires that the epistemic basis of science and design/engineering be fully comprehended. In interdisciplinary research where these two viewpoints meet, there are often dilemmas posed in terms of knowledge construction and labelling of activity. Therefore, this article scrutinises these two orientations and addresses the differences and commonalities, using case studies from engineering and psychological science (both constituents of HFE). Based on these insights, a way forward is suggested in terms of (1) a reflexive engagement with epistemic concepts and methods; (2) finding a conceptual space for balancing and bridging the science-engineering divide; (3) comprehending ‘design-thinking/design knowledge’ and not treating it as an application of science; (4) providing emphasis on problem formulation and practices of HFE focusing on developing them in systemic terms.

KEYWORDS:

• Science-engineering relationship
• epistemology
• human factors
• ergonomics
• design

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my teacher and mentor Scott Campbell for supporting and encouraging my interests in the science-engineering relationship.

Disclosure statement

I do not claim any financial interest or benefit that has arisen from the direct applications of your research.

Notes

1. Design as used here is much broader than engineering design itself. At the same time, HFE consists of both engineers and designers. Therefore, design/engineering is used simultaneously as a foil against scientific knowledge for ease of comparison. This current focus is a constrained view of design as a discipline and its corresponding knowledge. This current viewpoint was specifically adopted due to the scope of this article. In actuality, the epistemologies of science, engineering and design would be variegated involving their own breadth, scope and interaction. HFE as a discipline ideally lies at the intersection of these three approaches, drawing from all the three, yet maintaining its unique identity in terms of aims, knowledge and applications. This above aspect of the breadth of these disciplines as well as the positioning of HFE in terms of these three disciplines have not been delved into any great details as it is beyond the scope of this article. However, it is a topic requiring further elucidation for conceptualising the disciplinary identity of HFE.

2. In colloquial terms, science is sometimes referred as the only valid form of knowledge conceivable, the rest being classified as pseudo-science or superstition.

3. A system can also be considered as an ontological concept. For this view, see Bunge (1979).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vivek Kant

Vivek Kant is currently an assistant professor at Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune, India. His research interests are human technology interaction (human factors and human computer interaction), systems design engineering, history and philosophy of engineering, and human knowing and acting (ecological psychology, symbolic interactionism, activity theory).