ABSTRACT
The field of human factors was stimulated by the need to apply knowledge of human physical capabilities and limitations to the evaluation and design of products and environments that reduced human error and enhanced worker productivity and satisfaction. Human factors today originated from several sources, most notably, experimental psychology and industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology. Until the years of World War II, many applied psychologists considered themselves to be both I-O and engineering psychologists (Roscoe, 1997). During World War II, applied psychologists began to merge their work with the work of engineers, and the discipline of engineering psychology, a forerunner of human factors, was born. The fact that human factors and I-O psychology were once interest areas of the same discipline is reflected by the research areas that are still common to both groups (e.g. training, effects of stress, organizational psychology, team performance). Today, the two disciplines are considered to be distinct entities. This is due, in large part, to the fact that the study of human factors has become a multidisciplinary endeavor that has been influenced not only by psychology but also by engineering, design, physiology, and computer science. Regardless of the influence of other disciplines on human factors, I-O psychologists and human factors professionals continue to pursue many common research interests. It well may be that the distinction between the two disciplines has limited the dissemination of knowledge between the two groups to the detriment of all.
