Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute, Adelaide, South Australia.
Hum Factors. 2018 May;60(3):293-304. doi: 10.1177/0018720817752253. Epub 2018 Jan 12.
Objective The objective of this paper is to examine quotation error in human factors. Background Science progresses through building on the work of previous research. This requires accurate quotation. Quotation error has a number of adverse consequences: loss of credibility, loss of confidence in the journal, and a flawed basis for academic debate and scientific progress. Quotation error has been observed in a number of domains, including marine biology and medicine, but there has been little or no previous study of this form of error in human factors, a domain that specializes in the causes and management of error. Methods A study was conducted examining quotation accuracy of 187 extracts from 118 published articles that cited a control article (Vaughan's 1996 book: The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA). Results Of extracts studied, 12.8% ( n = 24) were classed as inaccurate, with 87.2% ( n = 163) being classed as accurate. A second dimension of agreement was examined with 96.3% ( n = 180) agreeing with the control article and only 3.7% ( n = 7) disagreeing. The categories of accuracy and agreement form a two by two matrix. Conclusion Rather than simply blaming individuals for quotation error, systemic factors should also be considered. Vaughan's theory, normalization of deviance, is one systemic theory that can account for quotation error. Application Quotation error is occurring in human factors and should receive more attention. According to Vaughan's theory, the normal everyday systems that promote scholarship may also allow mistakes, mishaps, and quotation error to occur.
目的 本文旨在探讨人为因素中的引述错误。 背景 科学是通过在前人研究工作的基础上不断发展进步的。这就需要准确的引述。引述错误会带来诸多不良后果：丧失可信度、对期刊失去信心，以及为学术辩论和科学进步提供有缺陷的基础。引述错误在多个领域都有观察到，包括海洋生物学和医学，但在人为因素领域，这种形式的错误几乎没有或根本没有研究过，人为因素领域专门研究错误的原因和管理。 方法 对 118 篇引用了控制文章（Vaughan 1996 年的著作：《挑战者号发射决策：NASA 的风险技术、文化和偏差》）的已发表文章中的 187 个摘录进行了准确性检查。 结果 在研究的摘录中，有 12.8%（n=24）被归类为不准确，87.2%（n=163）被归类为准确。还检查了第二个一致性维度，96.3%（n=180）与控制文章一致，只有 3.7%（n=7）不一致。准确性和一致性的类别形成了一个二乘二的矩阵。 结论 不应该仅仅将引述错误归咎于个人，还应该考虑系统因素。Vaughan 的理论，即偏差的正常化，是可以解释引述错误的一种系统理论。 应用 引述错误在人为因素中确实存在，应该得到更多关注。根据 Vaughan 的理论，促进学术的日常系统也可能允许错误、事故和引述错误发生。
