Journal profile · Behavioral Sciences
HUMAN FACTORS
ISSN 0018-7208 · eISSN 1547-8181 · SAGE Publications Inc. · UNITED STATES · Quarterly · Founded 1958
HUMAN FACTORS: CAS Zone 3 · Psychology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.48; hybrid open access; APC about USD 1,500; review about 222 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 62 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
HUMAN FACTORS is published by SAGE Publications Inc. and is in Zone 3 of Psychology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Human-Automation Interaction and Safety, Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders and Safety Warnings and Signage, together about 39.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Social Psychology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society publishes peer-reviewed scientific studies in human factors/ergonomics that present theoretical and practical advances concerning the relationship between people and technologies, tools, environments, and systems. Papers published in Human Factors leverage … | View full journal description This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Behavioral Sciences
Editor-in-chief Robert G. RadwinPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 56, Canada 3, Israel 2, United Kingdom 1, South Korea 1 (65 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Human-Automation Interaction and SafetyPsychology24.3%
- Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal DisordersPsychology7.9%
- Safety Warnings and SignagePsychology7.2%
- Traffic and Road SafetyEngineering6.8%
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationMedicine4.9%
- Occupational Health and Safety ResearchHealth Professions4.1%
- Visual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience3.6%
- Aerospace and Aviation TechnologyEngineering3.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ergonomics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Engineering, Industrial | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Psychology, Applied | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Engineering, Industrial | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ergonomics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Psychology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Behavioral Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Ergonomics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Psychology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Engineering, Industrial | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Psychology, Applied | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIESSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.48LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.6Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher)
- 5.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 12.7LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.44LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.16LetPub ·
- h-index
- 100LetPub ·
- h-index
- 208OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,117OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.27OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 30.99%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 59LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 3Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,875 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 76 | 42 | 25 |
| 2025 | 62 | 27 | 183 |
| 2024 | 51 | 31 | 410 |
| 2023 | 67 | 35 | 871 |
| 2022 | 114 | 44 | 2,318 |
| 2021 | 137 | 50 | 3,223 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
222 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports 6–12 weeks
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 13.6%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 72 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 222 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 27 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer review, Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 1,500 / GBP 1,099 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Other fees
- Charged; see the journal's website for the amount
- Submission fee
- No submission fee
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,500 words
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- extended multi-phase studyExtended Multi-Phase Study. Multi-phase studies report on a sequence or series of closely related original studies that are best discussed collectively instead …Length not stated
- literature reviewResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- original articleResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- original researchResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- perspectiveResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- research articleResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…main text ≤ 4,500 words
- reviewResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- review articleResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
- surveyResearch Article. Research articles represent the most common type of contribution to Human Factors. These articles report previously unpublished original resea…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Use of Generative AI Tools and LLMs
Generative AI/LLM use restricted: only for readability/language improvement, must be disclosed, AI cannot be an author, and authors are accountable for AI-generated content. Model summary
Individuals who want to use Generative AI tools or Large Language Models (LLMs) are prohibited from using tools that will take ownership of the material submitted to the tool. When authors submit a manuscript, they must attest that they have complied with the below guidelines as well as with Sage’s Artificial Intelligence Policy, and have not violated ethical principles or copyright law. Authors L…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data Sharing
Data sharing follows the APA ethics code regarding sharing of research data. Model summary
The journal is committed to facilitating openness, transparency and reproducibility of research. The journal follows the ethics code of the American Psychological Association regarding the sharing of research data (https://www.apa.org/ethics/code).
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright
Written permission required when quoting more than 150 words or using tables/figures from another source. Model summary
When quoting more than 150 words from another source, or using a table or figure from another source, it is necessary to obtain written permission from the copyright holder of that source.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open Access Publication Option
Optional open access publication available upon final acceptance via Sage Choice program or Open Access agreements. Model summary
Upon final acceptance, authors may choose open access (OA) publication of their work. Optional open access publishing is available for a fee via the Sage Choice program, and Open Access agreements, where authors can publish open access either discounted or free of charge depending on the agreement with Sage. Find out if your institution is participating by visiting Open Access Agreements at Sage. …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Single-anonymized review process by default; double-anonymized review available on request via cover letter and separate title page. Model summary
NOTE: HF has a single-anonymized review process, but in case you prefer a double anonymized review, please make a note of it in your cover letter and upload a separate title page with author biographies included.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 1958
- ISSN
- 0018-7208
- Electronic ISSN
- 1547-8181
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about HUMAN FACTORS
What CAS zone is HUMAN FACTORS in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, HUMAN FACTORS is in Zone 3 of Psychology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Behavioral Sciences / Ergonomics / Psychology / Engineering, Industrial / Psychology, Applied. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Psychology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of HUMAN FACTORS?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.48; CiteScore 12.7, h-index 208.
How long does peer review take at HUMAN FACTORS?
The publisher reports about 222 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 13.6%. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of HUMAN FACTORS?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,500 words; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of HUMAN FACTORS based?
Of the 65 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (56), Canada (3) and Israel (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index HUMAN FACTORS?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, HUMAN FACTORS is indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Is HUMAN FACTORS open access, and what is the APC?
HUMAN FACTORS is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 1,500.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .