Human Factors Template
Get your Human Factors paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Human Factors Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to Human Factors goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Human Factors guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Human Factors Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Human Factors. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Human Factors journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a HF submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Human Factors guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Human Factors guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Human Factors Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
Steps to Use This Template with Scispace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The Scispace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for HF.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Human Factors guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
Human Factors Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | HF requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract of no more than 250 words, with information arranged under the following subheadings (include the subheadings in your abstract, with each beginning on a new line): a. Objective, b. Background, c. Method, d. Results, e. Conclusion, f. Application (for non-theoretical works)—A statement that reflects the practical impact of this work to a broad audience. |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Up to 5 keywords (exclude words that already appear in the title) |
| References | APA style (American Psychological Association Publication Manual, 7th Edition) with hanging indent format |
| Peer review | Single-anonymized review process (also called single-blind). Authors may request double-anonymized review by noting it in the cover letter and uploading a separate title page with author biographies included, which will be hidden from reviewers. |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com |
Quick Tips for Using the Human Factors Template
Read the Human Factors guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Human Factors in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent HF papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Human Factors journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Human Factors guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
