Human Factors Psychology
Final Exam Review
The final exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each. You will NOT be responsible
for knowing the material highlighted in yellow in this outline. You will not need to know the specific data
(means, reaction times, etc.) from the results of any of the specific research studies. You should, however,
understand the general findings and the significance/meaning of the findings of the studies.
Introduction
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Human Factors Psychology
o Basic Definition
 "Procrustean" approach vs. Human Factors approach
 What “Human Factors” need to be considered?
o Primary Goal
 What is Effectiveness?
 Machine x Human x Environment
 User Error or Machine Error?
The "System" - A Central Concept
o The Human-Machine System
o Variations of Human-Machine Systems
Course Themes
What I Hope You'll Get From Class
Human Factors Psychology as a Profession
o Brief History of the Field
o Where Do Human Factors Psychologists Work Today?
Research in Human Factors Psychology
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Basic vs. Applied Research
Experimental Research (Basic Design & Key Components of an Experiment)
 Independent Variables in H. F. Experiments
 Dependent Variables in H. F. Experiments
 Specific Experimental Designs
Design of Everyday Things (Chapter 1)
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Affordance (definition; HF design principle)
Visibility (definition; HF design principle)
 Affordance vs. Visibility
Mapping (definition; HF design principle)
 2000 US Presidential Election
 Research on the Butterfly Ballot (Sinclair, et al.)
Feedback (definition; HF design principle)
Conceptual (Mental) Models
Paradox of technology
Design of Everyday Things (Chapter 2)
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Steps in the "Execution" process
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Steps in the "Evaluation" process
Gulf of Execution and Gulf of Evaluation
 Two “Gulfs” are Independent
Attributions for Errors
 Learned Helplessness/Taught Helplessness
Basic Design Issues
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Definition of Design
Design Involves Tradeoffs
 Some Considerations in Design
 Data on Traffic Deaths
Guiding Human Factors Principles of Design
A Model of the Basic Design Process (5-stage model)
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Requirements Analysis
Conceptual Design
Mockups & Prototypes
Production
Launch
Know details of
each stage
Whistleblowing
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Definition
Why do people blow the whistle?
Specific Forms of Whistleblowing
The Space Shuttle Challenger Story
Human Memory & Human Factors
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Stage Theory of Memory
 Specifics on STM & LTM (Types of Information in LTM)
Some Things We Forget When Using Technology
Why Do We Forget?
"The Design of Everyday Things" (Chapter 3)
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"Knowledge"
Knowledge in the Head
Knowledge in the World
Constraint
Continuum of “Knowledge”
Tradeoffs Between Knowledge in Head and World
Anthropometry & Biomechanics
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Basic Definitions
 Sources of Anthropometric and Biomechanical Variability
Anthropometry (Static & Dynamic Dimensions)
 Static Dimensions
 Normal Distribution
 How are Static Dimensions Measured?
 Static Dimensions of Pregnant Women (Culver & Viano research)
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Dynamic Dimensions
Biomechanics
Applying Anthropometric & Biomechanical Data in Design
 Design for Extreme User
 Design for maximum
 Design for minimum
 Design for Adjustable Range
Displays
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Definition
Nature of Information From “Systems”
o Dynamic (Qualitative & Quantitative)
o Static (Examples)
Coding
Visual Displays
o Definition
o Common “Coding Dimensions” for Visual Displays
o Visual Display of Dynamic Quantitative Information
 Digital vs. Analog Displays (Miller & Penningroth research methodology &
results)
 Digital or Analog Display? (Potential Problems with Analog Displays)
Displaying Research Data
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Types of Data Display Formats
Displaying Data (Meyer, Shinar, & Leiser research methodology & results)
Signs as Diplays
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Information Conveyed Through Signs
Factors Influencing Effectiveness of Signs
Sign Location (Foster research methodology & results)
Wayfinding
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Definition / Where an Issue
Characteristics of Environment that Influence Wayfinding
 Wayfinding Easiest if . . .
Directional Aides and Wayfinding (Butler research methodology & results)
Errors & Accidents
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Errors & Accidents (Norman: Mistake vs. Slip)
Reducing Human Error and Accidents
 Design of Technology
 Assists
 Location of Warnings on Products (Frantz & Rhoades research methodology &
results)
Automotive Human Factors
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Overview
Using Perceptual Illusions to Slow Drivers (Denton research methodology & results)
Estimating Distances in Fog (Cavallo, Colomb, & Dore research methodology & results)
How Effective is the Third Brake Light? (McKnight & Shinar research methodology & results)