Human Factors Prize: FAQ

1. What is the 2013 Human Factors Prize topic?
The 2013 topic is the human factors/ergonomics of social media.

We seek articles that describe HF/E research that pertains to the effective and satisfying use of social media. Social media is broadly defined to include technology that supports communication among individuals, organizations, or communities. Examples include e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, wikis, LinkedIn, instant messaging, Skype, internet meetings, and collaborative games. This technology can be used to communicate professionally or personally.

We are not seeking examples that apply HF/E to the design of such technology, which may be more suitable for a venue such as Ergonomics in Design. Rather, we invite contributions to the science of human factors/ergonomics that are relevant to the design and use of social media.

2. Are there examples of this type of subject matter research from past issues of Human Factors?
Yes, the following illustrate the types of submissions we are seeking. <

• Fussell, S. R. (1995). Social and cognitive processes in interpersonal communication: Implica­tions for advanced telecommunications technologies. Human Factors, 37, 22-50. http://hfs.sagepub.com/content/37/2/228.abstract
• Park, S., & Catrambone, R. (2007). Social facilitation effects of virtual humans. Human Fac­tors, 49, 1054-1060. http://hfs.sagepub.com/content/49/6/1054.abstract
• Champness, B. G. (1973). Attitudes toward person-person communications media. Human Factors, 15, 437-447. http://hfs.sagepub.com/content/15/5/437.abstract
• Green, C. A., & Williges, R. C. (1995). Evaluation of alternative media used with a group­ware editor in a simulated telecommunications environment. Human Factors 37, 283-289. http://hfs.sagepub.com/content/37/2/283.abstract

3. Why should I submit my research for consideration?
Here are just a few reasons to enter your work for the Prize:

• With a 2011 Impact Factor rating of 1.187, Human Factors ranks 7th of 15 journals in the Ergonomics category and 41st of 72 titles in Applied Psychology.
• Your submission will be evaluated by prominent human factors/ergonomics researchers, who will send you constructive feedback about your work.
• Even if you do not win the $10,000 prize, submissions that are acceptable for publication will be showcased in a special section of the journal, along with the winning submission.

4. What types of topics are suitable for consideration?
Suitable sample topics include effects of communication modality on comprehension of messages, effective ways to integrate social media into emergency response or health-care coordination or education, use of social network data for HF/E applications, and human factors of computer-supported cooperative work.

5. Are any types of submissions not applicable for the Human Factors Prize?
Review articles and brief reports are not considered. However, review articles and brief reports on this year?s topic may be submitted via the journal?s usual peer-review process.

6. What resources are available to help me produce a winning paper?
?Top 10 Tips for Getting Published in Human Factors? is one helpful resource; view it free at http://www.hfes.org/web/HFESBulletin/Oct200910tips.html.

American Psychological Association?s Publication Manual (6th ed.), summarized at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/.

7. If I do not win, can my research still be considered for publication in Human Factors?
Yes, and in fact if you do not win but your submission is deemed acceptable by the six experts, it will be published in a special section.

Of course, in the event that major revisions are needed, you may still submit your revised work for consideration through the usual peer-review process. The average time from submission to first decision is 8 weeks. Accepted papers are generally published within 6 months and will appear in OnlineFirst prior to release of the print issue.

8. How does HFES determine the topic for each year?s prize?
The Prize Editor and the Human Factors Editor in Chief, in consultation with others, will select a topic of interest.

9. Who can I contact if I have questions about the suitability of my submission?
Please contact Nancy Cooke, PhD.

Return to the main Human Factors Prize page.