Ergonomics in Design Instructions for Authors
MISSION
Ergonomics in Design provides information on applications of human factors/ergonomics and informs readers about the potential contributions that professionals in this field can make to improve the design of any system, tool, environment, or product with which people interact.
AUDIENCE
Ergonomics in Design is sent to an international audience consisting of the members of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, members of scientific organizations with an interest in the human factors field, and professionals working in industry and government agencies. Your article will reach a large and diverse readership in an attractive, well-respected, peer-reviewed publication.
CONTENT
We invite articles describing how human factors/ergonomics principles are applied in system or product design, simulation, testing, training, operation, or maintenance. We especially welcome case studies that demonstrate how the application and/or the process by which it was implemented can benefit readers – particularly industry and business managers – and help to promote the growth of the field. If the article reports on research, minimize the discussion of methodology (e.g., number of subjects, counterbalancing routine, and other scientific detail) and emphasize the implications and possible generalizability of the findings to other systems or tools. Articles about adapting a methodology in order to share practical details are encouraged.
REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE
Membership in HFES is not required to submit an article. All submissions to Ergonomics in Design undergo full peer review. Please allow 6-8 weeks from submission to first decision. The editor considers the articles available, along with issue length constraints, subject matter coverage, and overall quality, to determine which articles will be selected for publication. Commercial promotion (marketing) of a product, service, or organization – as determined by HFES, the editor, or the reviewers – may result in rejection of the article. In general, EID will not consider articles that have been published elsewhere.
HFES PUBLICATION POLICIES
All submissions should comply with HFES publication policies.
SAMPLE ARTICLES
HFES recommends that prospective authors read sample articles in preparation for making their submissions. A link to freely available articles from previous issues may be found at the Ergonomics in Design Web site: http://www.hfes.org/Publications/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=36.
TONE AND STYLE
Articles submitted to Ergonomics in Design should be written in a less formal style than that used for a research journal. When writing your article, bear in mind that professionals of varied educational and scientific backgrounds will be reading it, so please avoid excessive use of jargon or abbreviations. Use the first person, and avoid the passive voice. (The HFES Communications Department staff can assist you in presenting your ideas clearly once the article is accepted and enters production.) A reference or resource list is acceptable; please limit the list to major works that are needed to support points in the text.
DEPARTMENTS
In addition to feature articles and interviews, a number of regular columns appear in each issue. Submissions are welcome for "Perspectives." This column contains brief opinion pieces on issues of relevance to human factors/ergonomics professionals. Topics may also address professional issues, such as ethics and certification, and can be brief thought-provoking pieces or responses to previously published comments. Volunteers are invited to write brief objective reviews of books and software used in the field. Reviews appear in the "Books" and "Software" departments.
INQUIRIES AND IDEAS
If you don't have time to prepare a full article but believe you have the basis for an interesting submission, please send the editor an outline with an introductory paragraph describing the subject and purpose of the proposed article. The editorial staff may be able to locate resources to assist in the writing process. Or you may contact the editor (see address below) to explore ways to develop your ideas.
LENGTH
Feature articles should be 1,500-3,000 words in length (about 6-14 double-spaced typed pages). Shorter articles should not exceed 1,500 words.
ARTWORK
We encourage you to include illustrative materials to support major points in the text, such as photos, line drawings, graphs, charts, and tables. These materials (except tables, which we will typeset) should be professionally prepared and submitted electronically as high-resolution (i.e., minimum 300 dpi) files. Acceptable file formats are .jpg, .tif, and .bmp. Images that are inserted into Word files are generally too low in resolution for reproduction. We do not accept images created in or imported into PowerPoint (resolution is far too low).
Images are generally printed in black and white. However, color photos may be accommodated if the information conveyed in the images relies on the use of color.
PERMISSIONS
If your article incorporates lengthy quotations, photographs, illustrations, or other substantive content from previously published work, you will need to (a) send us a copy of the publisher's and/or author's written permission when you submit your article and (b) include an acknowledgment or credit in the appropriate place in the article. Authors are responsible for paying any permission fees required by the copyright owner.
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
Ergonomics in Design does not consider articles that have simultaneously been submitted elsewhere.
MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION
Prepare your article in double-spaced type, including block quotations and references, on one side of 8-1/2 x 11" or European A4 paper. Allow a one-inch margin at top, bottom, left, and right. Do not use footnotes.
Subheadings
We encourage the use of subheads in the text. Rather than the "introduction-method-results" types of heading found in journals, use brief, descriptive phrases that draw the reader's attention. Do not use more than two levels of headings.
Feature at a Glance (Abstract)
As part of your submission, please include a 100-word abstract, written in very simple terms (high school level), describing (a) the main topic of the article, (b) one or two key points made in the article, and (c) implications for design. Avoid technical terms and abbreviations/acronyms.
Keywords
Please provide up to six words or phrases that do not already appear in the title or subtitle of the article.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES
Please include a short biography (75 words maximum, not counting funding acknowledgments or disclaimers) for each coauthor of the submitted article. Each bio must contain the author's full name and current affiliation and – for the primary author only – mailing address and e-mail address. Optional information may include highest degree (field, institution, year), primary certification, and interest areas.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
Please send your submission via e-mail to Managing Editor Scott MacDonald (scott@hfes.org). HFES can accommodate Microsoft Word or PDF files.
CORRESPONDENCE/MAILING ADDRESS
Ergonomics in Design
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
P.O. Box 1369
Santa Monica, CA 90406-1369 USA
Overnight shipments (UPS, Airborne Express, DHL, Federal Express, etc.) should be addressed as follows:
Ergonomics in Design
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
1124 Montana Ave., Suite B
Santa Monica, CA 90403 USA
To obtain further information or to discuss a potential submission, contact the editor of Ergonomics in Design, Carol Stuart-Buttle, CPE (csb@stuartbuttleergonomics.com), or Managing Editor Scott MacDonald (310/394-1811, fax 310/394-2410, scott@hfes.org). Sample issues are available on request.
Revised January 2010
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