PSYC451-16S2 (C) Semester Two 2016

Human Factors - Ergonomics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 11 July 2016
End Date: Sunday, 13 November 2016
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 22 July 2016
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 7 October 2016

Description

An overview of the role of psychology in the field of cognitive ergonomics and human factors.

An overview of the role of Psychology in the field of usability and human factors.  This course will deal with various issues in Human Factors and Usability Engineering.  The course will have an applied emphasis oriented towards using psychological theory in the "real" world.  Human Factors and usability in the "real" world makes software, devices, processes, tools, appliances, vehicles, houses, etc. more usable.  In many settings this increase in usability can directly improve the users' experience which in turn leads to better sales and a reduction in costs to support the product.  For safety, critical application usability is even more important and can prevent disasters from happening.  Good Human Factors saves or makes money.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the key theories in usability.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply those theories to human behaviour in human-built system contexts.
  • Demonstrate the ability to critically challenge the different usability theories.
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct usability research and design.
  • Demonstrate the ability to report usability research.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Equivalent Courses

APSY610

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Christoph Bartneck

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Prototyping and Usability Study 2 40%
Usability Study 1 40%
Participation in Course (Online and in Attendance) 20%


Students will be assessed based on two projects that each student will conduct and report on.

Textbooks / Resources

No set text book but readings will be made available.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $944.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC451 Occurrences

  • PSYC451-16S2 (C) Semester Two 2016