Journal Aims and Scope

At the founding of this journal in 1996, Douglas Herrmann described how the scientific community could work to optimize the discovery and application of technologies via enhanced communication between the varied communities engaged in research and development at the intersection of cognition and technology (Herrmann, 1996). Since then, we have seen a tremendous increase in the integration of theory and methods with tools and technologies supporting cognitive processing in individuals and in teams. Indeed, in recent discussions of how such developments have helped to transform thought and society, we see articulated a simple, yet powerful, statement – a statement foundational to the mission of this journal – the power of cognitive psychology lies in the promise of cognitive technology (Walker & Herrmann, 2005).

Aims

The aim of Cognitive Technology is to facilitate the realization of this promise so that both science and society benefit. In particular, critical to meeting the needs of a more complex workplace, an aging population, and a society increasingly sophisticated in their use of information technology, is improved interaction between the practice of science and the application of scientific findings. Cognitive Technology publishes high quality articles covering innovations in research and development that touch upon the interaction between cognition and technology. Our goal is to realize both practical and theoretical benefits relating to cognitive technologies. From a practical standpoint, it is important that technologies be investigated for their potential applicability to societal needs and for their potential impact on theory evolution. From a theoretical standpoint, the concepts that drive the investigation and development of new technologies, and the refinement of emerging technologies, must also be identified.

Scope

To meet these goals, Cognitive Technology will strategically support research that addresses human performance on multiple levels – at the level of the individual, the group and team, the organization, and society at large. Further, the journal will publish research that is grounded in use-inspired basic research. As its foundation, use-inspired basic research relies on both epistemological relevance and ecological salience (see Fiore, Rubinstein, & Jentsch; 2004; Fiore & Salas, 2007; Hoffman & Deffenbacher, 1993; Stokes, 1997; Vicente, 2000). Epistemological relevance describes the degree to which the experimental approach relies on concepts from extant theories. Ecological salience describes the degree to which the materials or tasks of study pertain to what is actually perceived or done in the real-world setting. Resulting from the combination of these approaches is a more strategic research framework that increases the probability for discovery of innovative solutions to pressing national problems (e.g., Rubinstein, 2002; Stokes, 1997; see also Branscomb, Holton, & Sonnert, 2002). Via simultaneous consideration of epistemological relevance and ecological salience, the journal’s goal is to publish high quality research that facilitates our understanding of the complexities of human performance and how to support that performance. In short, Cognitive Technology will be a forum that illustrates how research can simultaneously support both scientific and societal goals via an integration of ecologically and epistemologically valid approaches to research.

Branscomb, L. M., Holton, G., & Sonnert, G. (2002). Science and Society. In A. H. Teich, S. D. Nelson, & S. J. Lita (Eds.) AAAS Science and Technology Policy Yearbook (pp. 35 – 42). Washington , DC : American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Fiore, S.M., Rubinstein, J., & Jentsch, F. (2004). Considering Science and Security from a Broader Research Perspective. Cognitive Technology, 9, 40-42.

Fiore, S. M., & Salas, E. (2007). Problems and Possibilities: Strategically Pursuing a Science of Learning in Distributed Environments. In S. M. Fiore and E. Salas (Editors), Towards a science of distributed learning (pp. 237 – 264). Washington , DC : American Psychological Association.

Herrmann, D. J. (1996). Cognitive Technology’s Contribution to Cognitive Psychology: The Optimization of Discovery and Application. Cognitive Technology, 1, 4-6.

Hoffman, R. R., & Deffenbacher, K. A. (1993). An analysis of the relations of basic and applied science. Ecological Psychology, 5, 315-352.

Rubinstein, J. (2002). Aviation security long-term theoretical human factors research. International Airport Review , 49-54.

Stokes, D. E. (1997). Pasteur’s Quadrant: Basic science and technological innovation. Washington DC : Brookings Institution Press.

Vicente, K. J. (2000). Toward Jeffersonian research programmes in ergonomic science. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 1, 93-113.

Walker , W. R. & Herrmann, D. J. (Eds.). (2005). Cognitive Technology: Essays on the Transformation of Thought and Society. Jefferson , NC : McFarland & Company, Inc.