Using human factors and ergonomics methods to challenge the status quo: Designing for gender equitable research outcomes

G J M Read; K M A Madeira-Revell; K J Parnell; D Lockton; P M Salmon

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103634

Using human factors and ergonomics methods to challenge the status quo: Designing for gender equitable research outcomes

Appl Ergon. 2022 Feb:99:103634. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103634. Epub 2021 Nov 6.

Authors

G J M Read¹, K M A Madeira-Revell², K J Parnell², D Lockton³, P M Salmon⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia. Electronic address: gread@usc.edu.au.
² Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
³ Future Everyday, Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.
⁴ Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia.

PMID: 34753098
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103634

Abstract

There have been recent calls for Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) to expand its reach and focus to address larger scale societal and global issues. An area of growing awareness is the issue of the gender data gap, whereby women are under-represented in research data, leading to inequitable outcomes when research findings are used to design real world technologies, products, environments, processes, and policies. The aim of this paper is to showcase how structured HFE methods can be used to address the gender data gap. We applied the Sociotechnical Systems Design Toolkit which involved using causal loop diagrams and abstraction hierarchy modelling from Cognitive Work Analysis to understand the system in which the issue occurs and key pain points, followed by the application of the Design with Intent Toolkit to generate design ideas. A total of 43 ideas were developed that could be implemented by universities to address the research data gap. The application demonstrates the utility of HFE methods in tackling complex issues and offers an opportunity for the HFE community to reflect upon the importance of gender sensitive research practices and gender equity more broadly.

Keywords: Abstraction hierarchy; Causal loop diagram; Design with intent toolkit; Gender data gap; Gender equity; Sociotechnical systems design toolkit.

MeSH terms

Ergonomics*
Humans
Technology*