Control-Display Relationships on the Four-Burner Range: Population Stereotypes versus Standards

In a follow-up of Chapanis and Lindenbaum's (1959) study of the control-display linkages on the four-burner range, 222 persons were surveyed to test the existence of population stereotypes concerning control-burner relationships. In parallel, a market survey of 49 different models of currently marketed ranges was conducted to assess the variation between existing ranges. Subjects' responses to the questionnaire revealed at least four commonly expected different linkage relationships, with no one particular stereotype emerging as predominant among them. Nonetheless, there was a very strong consensus among the respondents (98%) that the right burners should be controlled by either one of the right control knobs, while the left burners should be controlled by either one of the left control knobs. The results of the market survey yielded five different burner-control arrangements that are in current production, the most common of which was not selected by any of the subjects and violated the above expectation. The subjects' awareness of the lack of standardization was manifested in relatively low confidence associated with their choices.