Compatibility Relationships with Simple Lever Tools on Behalf Of: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Objective: The study focuses on potential compatibility relationships when simple lever tools are used. Background: Spatial compatibility between stimuli and responses determines performance. However, many tasks require the use of simple tools, such as levers that transform hand movements into tool movements. We explore with such a tool whether and how the correspondence or noncorrespondence between stimulus-side and hand movement (stimulus-response compatibility), between stimulus-side and tool-effect movement (stimulus-effect compatibility), and/or between hand movement and tool-effect movement (response-effect compatibility) affects performance. Method: U-shaped and inverted-U-shaped levers were used as tools, allowing us to examine the contribution of each compatibility relationship to response times and errors without any confounds and omissions. Results: Responding was delayed and error prone when the hand movement and the movement of the effect point of the tool did not correspond. Effects of stimulus-response compatibility and stimulus-effect compatibility were observed only when the hand movement direction remained untransformed in the tool-effect movement. Conclusion: The results point out that the inversion or noninversion of tool-effect movements plays an underlying role when handling a tool. Application: Potential applications of this research include the prediction and possibly manipulation of un-wanted behavioral tendencies in laparoscopic surgery and other lever movements.