A Conceptual Human Factors Mapping Model for VR Design Education: Examining Awareness of Ergonomic Criteria in Design Decision-Making

Abstract

In VR systems designed for diverse users and purposes ergonomic prioritization necessarily varies. Systematic reviews highlight the need for human factors–based design models that can support contextual interpretation rather than fixed prescriptions. In the field some approaches group ergonomics under broad experiential constructs, while others propose extensive lists of specific variables. Both strategies challenge design education: broad categories can hide root causes, while detailed criteria increase cognitive load and hinder learning for novices. To address these challenges, this study proposes a conceptual VR Human Factors Mapping Model designed to function as a cognitive bridge between theoretical ergonomic knowledge and practical VR design reasoning. An exploratory and iterative study was conducted with undergraduate design students. Participants were given VR design problem scenarios linked to ergonomic criteria and asked to match each problem with relevant human factors criteria. The resulting dataset was analysed in terms of clustering density, cross-criterion overlap, and conceptual dispersion in order to evaluate the clarity with which each criterion was distinguished cognitively. Findings reveal that students more easily recognize physically grounded and technically observable criteria, while struggling to distinguish experiential and conceptual constructs. These findings suggest that the main challenge in VR human factors education is not recognizing criteria, but distinguishing overlapping concepts and linking them accurately to design problems. The study therefore emphasizes the importance of defining a balanced number of criteria and explicitly modelling their relationships through relational matrices, providing a scalable framework for improving root-cause reasoning in VR design.

Keywords: Virtual Reality (VR) Design, Human Factors In VR, Human Factors In VR Design Education, Ergonomic Criteria, Ergonomic Mapping, Design Decision-making

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007661