Solution Manual For
Introduction to Human Factors Applying Psychology to Design 2E y Nancy J. Stone Alex
Chaparro Joseph R. Keebler
Chapter 1-12
Chapter 1 Answers to End of Chapter Exercises
1 Human factors is the application of psychological science. First, identify a psychological
phenomenon or finding (e.g., the Zeigarnik effect). Now, give an example of how this
information would or would not be considered human factors.
The Zeigarnik effect postulates that we are likely to remember things better when
interrupted, but not once a task is completed. For example, wait servers remember orders
when they are not complete, but do not recall the orders as well once everyone has been
served. This is great when you are constantly getting knew information and can forget the
old. This would not work for pilots or drivers who need to remember how to control their
respective vehicles.
2 Given the following systems, (1) identify the goals, inputs, process, and outputs, (2) describe
how these different parts of the system are interrelated, and (3) describe how the system
would be affected if one or more of these parts or functions changed:
a. Highway system
(1) Goals: to provide safe routes to various destinations. Inputs: drivers, vehicles, weather,
infrastructure (to name a few). Process: following proper use of system, making critical
decision related to driving (e.g., lane changes). Outputs: safe arrival, accidents
(2) Novice drivers, compared to more experienced drivers, are more likely to make slower or
incorrect decisions, which could result in not getting to the correct destination (e.g.,
wrong exit) or having an accident.
,(3) As processes improve, there will likely be fewer errors and/or accidents.
b. Air transportation system
See answers to a as an example.
c. Elevator
(1) Goals: to raise and lower people and things safely to various levels of a building or
structure. Inputs: people, things, buttons/controls (to name a few). Process: know when
to enter the elevator, understand how to operate the elevator. Outputs: safe arrival to
proper level.
(2) If you replace the adult elevator operator with a child, this will likely impact the
processing and inappropriate control of the elevator. \
(3) With a more advanced operator, the elevator controls should be better understood. With
better designed controls and signage the operator will make fewer mistakes operating the
elevator.
d. Bus system
See other answers as an example.
e. Restrooms
(1) Goals: sanitation. Inputs: people, cleaning supplies. Process: hygiene decisions. Outputs:
human relief, cleanliness.
(2) If no one is using the restroom, then there is no need to clean or provide cleaning
materials, and there would not be any outputs.
(3) If (more) people stopped washing their hands after using the restroom, three would be the
spread of more disease.
f. Offices
, (1) Goals: to meet with people, to process paperwork, etc. Inputs: people, documents, visual
cues(to name a few). Process: inviting people in to talk, making decisions on the budget.
Outputs: effective meeting, balanced budget.
(2) Without the proper people in the room, the appropriate documents, etc., it is not possible
to have an effective meeting or to make the appropriate budget decision.
(3) With the wrong documentation, there is a greater change of budgetary error.
g. Parking lots
(1) Goals: to store cars safely. Inputs: drivers, pedestrians, vehicles, signage, traffic rules (to
name a few). Process: deciding where to safely park. Outputs: safely parked car.
(2) The input (e.g., pedestrian) will influence how the driver trying to park will or can
process the parking rules and not run over the pedestrians.
(3) A novice driver might be less likely to notice the pedestrian or motorcyclist behind the
car when backing into a spot.
3 Identify various events that occurred during WWII and explain how they helped the
development of the human factors profession.
As one example, you could discuss the problems pilots had in flying airplanes that were built
without standardization.
4 If you were having trouble entering phone numbers into your cell phone, explain how a
human factors specialist is likely to approach the problem compared to an engineer or an I-O
psychologist.
, An engineer might focus on the design of the phone and how the phone works (i.e., how the
numbers are entered). An I-O psychologist is likely to encourage some form of training. The
human factor specialist might be concerned with the size of the buttons for entering the numbers
or, due to memory, decay focus on using voice entry instead of manual entry.
5 As a human factors specialist working during WWII, describe the different types of research
you would likely conduct and explain how the results could be applied to everyday use.
You might begin by looking at the work by Chapanis and Fitts. The work of experimental
psychologists apply here, too. There are many possible answers.
6 What are some of the reasons we need to consider special populations? Give an example of
how a lack of consideration of special populations is likely to create errors or decrease safety
for the users.
We need to consider special populations so that more users can benefit from the design.
Without considerations for special populations, we might create a cell phone that is too small
such that individuals with large fingers will accidentally activate surrounding keys or we
create a workspace that has many items locate high overhead whereby individuals who are
shorter or have mobility issues could have trouble accessing the materials.
7 Compare and contrast the terms engineering psychology, ergonomics, and human factors.
The three terms all focus on designing for the human user. For some, the term engineering
psychology is narrower than human factors, while ergonomics tends to be a term used more
commonly in Europe. In addition, ergonomics often focus on the design of furniture and
workspaces, but not exclusively.
Introduction to Human Factors Applying Psychology to Design 2E y Nancy J. Stone Alex
Chaparro Joseph R. Keebler
Chapter 1-12
Chapter 1 Answers to End of Chapter Exercises
1 Human factors is the application of psychological science. First, identify a psychological
phenomenon or finding (e.g., the Zeigarnik effect). Now, give an example of how this
information would or would not be considered human factors.
The Zeigarnik effect postulates that we are likely to remember things better when
interrupted, but not once a task is completed. For example, wait servers remember orders
when they are not complete, but do not recall the orders as well once everyone has been
served. This is great when you are constantly getting knew information and can forget the
old. This would not work for pilots or drivers who need to remember how to control their
respective vehicles.
2 Given the following systems, (1) identify the goals, inputs, process, and outputs, (2) describe
how these different parts of the system are interrelated, and (3) describe how the system
would be affected if one or more of these parts or functions changed:
a. Highway system
(1) Goals: to provide safe routes to various destinations. Inputs: drivers, vehicles, weather,
infrastructure (to name a few). Process: following proper use of system, making critical
decision related to driving (e.g., lane changes). Outputs: safe arrival, accidents
(2) Novice drivers, compared to more experienced drivers, are more likely to make slower or
incorrect decisions, which could result in not getting to the correct destination (e.g.,
wrong exit) or having an accident.
,(3) As processes improve, there will likely be fewer errors and/or accidents.
b. Air transportation system
See answers to a as an example.
c. Elevator
(1) Goals: to raise and lower people and things safely to various levels of a building or
structure. Inputs: people, things, buttons/controls (to name a few). Process: know when
to enter the elevator, understand how to operate the elevator. Outputs: safe arrival to
proper level.
(2) If you replace the adult elevator operator with a child, this will likely impact the
processing and inappropriate control of the elevator. \
(3) With a more advanced operator, the elevator controls should be better understood. With
better designed controls and signage the operator will make fewer mistakes operating the
elevator.
d. Bus system
See other answers as an example.
e. Restrooms
(1) Goals: sanitation. Inputs: people, cleaning supplies. Process: hygiene decisions. Outputs:
human relief, cleanliness.
(2) If no one is using the restroom, then there is no need to clean or provide cleaning
materials, and there would not be any outputs.
(3) If (more) people stopped washing their hands after using the restroom, three would be the
spread of more disease.
f. Offices
, (1) Goals: to meet with people, to process paperwork, etc. Inputs: people, documents, visual
cues(to name a few). Process: inviting people in to talk, making decisions on the budget.
Outputs: effective meeting, balanced budget.
(2) Without the proper people in the room, the appropriate documents, etc., it is not possible
to have an effective meeting or to make the appropriate budget decision.
(3) With the wrong documentation, there is a greater change of budgetary error.
g. Parking lots
(1) Goals: to store cars safely. Inputs: drivers, pedestrians, vehicles, signage, traffic rules (to
name a few). Process: deciding where to safely park. Outputs: safely parked car.
(2) The input (e.g., pedestrian) will influence how the driver trying to park will or can
process the parking rules and not run over the pedestrians.
(3) A novice driver might be less likely to notice the pedestrian or motorcyclist behind the
car when backing into a spot.
3 Identify various events that occurred during WWII and explain how they helped the
development of the human factors profession.
As one example, you could discuss the problems pilots had in flying airplanes that were built
without standardization.
4 If you were having trouble entering phone numbers into your cell phone, explain how a
human factors specialist is likely to approach the problem compared to an engineer or an I-O
psychologist.
, An engineer might focus on the design of the phone and how the phone works (i.e., how the
numbers are entered). An I-O psychologist is likely to encourage some form of training. The
human factor specialist might be concerned with the size of the buttons for entering the numbers
or, due to memory, decay focus on using voice entry instead of manual entry.
5 As a human factors specialist working during WWII, describe the different types of research
you would likely conduct and explain how the results could be applied to everyday use.
You might begin by looking at the work by Chapanis and Fitts. The work of experimental
psychologists apply here, too. There are many possible answers.
6 What are some of the reasons we need to consider special populations? Give an example of
how a lack of consideration of special populations is likely to create errors or decrease safety
for the users.
We need to consider special populations so that more users can benefit from the design.
Without considerations for special populations, we might create a cell phone that is too small
such that individuals with large fingers will accidentally activate surrounding keys or we
create a workspace that has many items locate high overhead whereby individuals who are
shorter or have mobility issues could have trouble accessing the materials.
7 Compare and contrast the terms engineering psychology, ergonomics, and human factors.
The three terms all focus on designing for the human user. For some, the term engineering
psychology is narrower than human factors, while ergonomics tends to be a term used more
commonly in Europe. In addition, ergonomics often focus on the design of furniture and
workspaces, but not exclusively.
