MEMORANDUM TO: CHSS Curriculum Committee FROM: James
Department of Psychology 4400 University Drive, MS 3F5, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Phone: 703-9931384; Fax: 703-993-1359
MEMORANDUM TO: CHSS Curriculum Committee FROM: James Sanford DATE: October 24, 2012 RE: New Course Approval Form for PSYC 340: Human Factors Psychology
PSYC 340 - Human Factors Psychology Catalog description: A review of the history and current practice of optimal product and system design as a function of psychology. Topics include a brief history of human factors psychology, a review of human memory and attentional systems as they relate to product and system design, and an introduction to current methods used to analyze and redesign products and systems for optimal human interaction. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 or permission of instructor. Rationale: This course proposal was approved by department faculty on October 10, 2012. It has been offered as a special topics offering on two occasions, and it has attracted an enrollment in the upper 20s both times. It has sufficient rigor to be offered at the upper division level and fills an important hole in the curriculum. At present, Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HFAC) is the only specialty offered among Psychology Department Ph.D. programs that does not have a stand-alone undergraduate course in its area. Nearly any faculty member affiliated with the HFAC can teach this course. If approved, faculty plan to add this course to the menu of courses that meets the Applied Psychology requirement of majors.
For approval of new courses and deletions or modifications to an existing course.
Course Appro val Form
registrar.gmu.edu/facultystaff/curriculum
Action Requested:
Course Level:
X Create new course Delete existing course Modify existing course (check all that apply) Title Prereq/coreq Other:
College/School: Submitted by: Subject Code:
Credits Schedule Type
Repeat Status Restrictions
CHSS Sara Montiel PSYC
X Undergraduate Graduate Grade Type
Department: 3-1759 Ext:
Number:
Effective Term:
340
Psychology Email: X
(Do not list multiple codes or numbers. Each course proposal must have a separate form.)
Title:
Fall Spring Summer
[email protected]
Year
2013
Current Banner (30 characters max including spaces) New Human Factors Psychology
Credits:
X
(check one)
Grade Mode:
Fixed Variable
X
(check one)
or to
3
X
Repeat Status: (check one)
Regular (A, B, C, etc.) Satisfactory/No Credit Special (A, B C, etc. +IP)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or permission of instructor.
Not Repeatable (NR) Repeatable within degree (RD) Repeatable within term (RT) X
Schedule Type Code(s): (check all that apply)
Lecture (LEC) Lab (LAB) Recitation (RCT) Internship (INT)
Corequisite(s):
Maximum credits allowed: Independent Study (IND) Seminar (SEM) Studio (STU)
Instructional Mode: X 100% face-to-face Hybrid: ≤ 50% electronically delivered 100% electronically delivered
Special Instructions: (list restrictions for major, college, or degree;hard-coding; etc.)
Are there equivalent course(s)? Yes X No If yes, please list
Catalog Co py for NEW C ourses Only (Consult University Catalog for models) Description (No more than 60 words, use verb phrases and present tense)
Notes (List additional information for the course)
Reviews history and current practice of optimal product and system design as a function of psychology. Includes a brief history of human factors psychology, a review of human memory and attentional systems as they relate to product and system design, and an introduction to current methods used to analyze and redesign products and systems for optimal human interaction. Indicate number of contact hours: When Offered: (check all that apply)
Hours of Lecture or Seminar per week: Fall Summer Spring
Hours of Lab or Studio:
A pproval Signatures Department Approval
Date
College/School Approval
Date
If this course includes subject matter currently dealt with by any other units, the originating department must circulate this proposal for review by those units and obtain the necessary signatures prior to submission. Failure to do so will delay action on this proposal.
Unit Name
Unit Approval Name
Unit Approver’s Signature
Date
For Gra du at e C o urs es Only Graduate Council Member
Provost Office
Graduate Council Approval Date
For Registrar Office's Use Only: Banner
_ Catalog
_
revised 2/2/10
Human Factors Psychology Psychology 340 Fall 2012 Instructor: Robert J. Youmans, Ph.D. Office Hours: Wednesdays 10-11AM and by appointment Phone: (703) 993 -5627 Class Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 12-1:15PM Email: [email protected] Location: Enterprise Hall 275 Office: 2057 David King Website: https://sites.google.com/site/psy461/ Course Description and Objectives Human Factors is a specialization of psychology that studies how humans interact with technology and how those interactions may be made better (e.g., more safe, efficient, easy to learn, intuitive, enjoyable, etc.). Today human Factors psychologists work at companies that produce technology like Apple Computers, Google, and Microsoft Gaming, but they also work for media companies, medical device manufacturers, and in the design of automobiles and other forms of transportation. This course is designed around three ‘core’ topics: (1) the history and development of Human Factors, (2) the cognitive psychology and attributes of humans, and (3) an introduction to product evaluation techniques. Course Structure and Reading Assignments Before you decide to continue in this course, there are several considerations that should be made. First, Human Factors is still a young science, and because it is young, I have collected a variety of reading sources, including experimental articles on psychology, book chapters, industry guides, historical and contemporary interactive products for evaluation, etc. I do this to keep costs down for the student, and also because it is my intention to make this course interesting, relevant, and on the cutting-edge of science. Second, this course will require your active participation. There will be activities and reading completed both inside and outside of class. These activities provide experience learning about and applying human factors principles and research methodology to the analysis and evaluation of contemporary human factors problems. Without a standard textbook to guide you, this course may be different than some of the others you have taken. It isn’t designed to be more difficult, but it will require much of students by way of reading, discussion, and some time outside of class working on projects. Please see me immediately if you have concerns about continuing with the class because of the course workload or structure. Course Assignments and Grading Examinations Examinations will measure students’ mastery of the material covered in the textbook and class lectures using a format of my choosing. Exams may include multiple-choice, drawing, matching, fill-in-the-blank, short or long essay questions, hangman, crosswords puzzles, and so on. There will be three examinations, and one final, each worth 40 points (see final exam information below). The lowest exam will be dropped, for a total of 120 exam points. Please bring something to write with on exam days, but no other materials are required (e.g., I do not use Scantron sheets). NOTE: The grade for a missed exam will be a 0. Makeup exams will be given only when a student gains prior approval to take a makeup exam, or when he or she provides official documentation clearly indicating that circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., a serious illness, serious automotive accident with documentation, death in the family, or other CSUN-approved absence). A note from a friend or family member is not acceptable documentation. Quizzes Quizzes motivate students to attend class, arrive on time, and complete the assigned readings. Quizzes are unannounced, and will usually cover material from that day’s reading assignment(s). Throughout the semester, I will administer quizzes at the beginning of class. If you are absent from class or arrive late after the quiz has been distributed, you will not be allowed to take the quiz and will receive no points. Some quizzes will be worth 5 points, but many will be worth 10 points, for a total of 70 quiz points
Human Factors Projects In addition to reading and thinking about the concepts covered in the text, an important part of the learning process includes applying these concepts. Thus, you will complete three human-factors projects outside the class. Each project will be worth 20 points, for a total of 60 project points. Final Exam The final exam will be given at a time scheduled by the university. It will be formatted like the other exams, but will cover material from the entire semester. The final exam is worth 40 points, and can be dropped if becoming a student’s lowest exam grade. Bonus Points or Extra Credit No extra credit will be given in this course unless otherwise announced. Students who are performing poorly in the class are encouraged to see me during office hours to discuss how they may improve their performance on exams, quizzes, or projects, but no bonus points or extra credit points are available. Computing Your Final Grade Your letter grade will be calculated by dividing the number of points you earn by the total number of points possible to earn (250 points). Please do not approach me about bending the class rules to make personal exceptions about your grade: I take fair and equitable treatment of all students seriously and every student will be subject to the same grading standards outlined below. Where there are fractions of a point determining the difference between letter grades, I will round to the nearest whole number. The chart below should be useful for determining your course standings: Source Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3* Quizzes Projects *Note that one exam (or the final) will be dropped.
Maximum Score 40 points 40 Points 40 points 70 points 60 points Total: 250 points
A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF
Determining Your Letter Grade 100-93% 231-250 points 92-90% 224-230 points 89-87% 216-223 points 86-83% 207-215 points 82-80% 200-206 points 79-77% 192-199 points 76-73% 182-191 points 72-70% 175-181 points 69-67% 167-174 points 66-63% 157-166 points 62-60% 150-156 points 59% or below 150 points or below
Attendance Attendance is required in all lecture sessions without exception, and will be taken at my discretion, including formal roll calls, attendance quizzes, or in my mind (i.e., when I notice that you are absent from a course or lecture). As a courtesy, I will allow two unexcused absences before punitive actions are taken. After two unexcused absence, you will incur a penalty of a reduction in your final course grade of half a letter grade for each unexcused absence (e.g., a student who earns a grade of “A-” and who misses three classes would receive a grade of “B+,” a “C-” would become a “D,” etc.).No ‘make-up work’ will be allowed unless an absence is for a university-approved reason (serious illness with documentation, etc.), or unless you make arrangements with me in advance (strongly recommended!). Please do not arrive late to class. Being late disrupts other students who are on time, may cause you to miss quizzes, and also risks being counted absent (see attendance policy above). Students who miss quizzes or other materials because of lateness will not be given the opportunity to make up the work. GMU Honor Code
George Mason University has an Honor Code that each student accepts as a condition of enrollment. This code is consistent with APA’s ethical principles for working professionals, and it is required that each student adhere to the Honor Code. For this course, group studying is expected and encouraged, but all students are required to produce original work on all assignments unless otherwise noted. Plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and other failures to follow the GMU honor code will result in disciplinary actions that include receiving a failing grade for this course, along with referral to the GMU Honor Committee for further review and documentation of the offense. A lack of knowledge about what constitutes a violation of the GMU honor code is not a defense against possible violations; it is your responsibility as a GMU student to review and adhere to this code. If you have ANY questions about plagiarism or the GMU honor code, I encourage students to review the code for themselves at: http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/ Performing at Your Best Learning Accommodations: It is my policy, as well as the university’s, to accommodate all students with
disabilities that might affect their learning, course participation, or assignment completion. If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please feel free to speak with me about making appropriate accommodations and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474, or online at http://ods.gmu.edu/ - accommodations will be arranged through that office. Stress and Academics: Let’s face it, being a student can be stressful, and life events can create anxiety or depression that can hurt anybody’s academic performance. GMU is committed to helping students maintain their emotional well-being through the GMU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office, located online at: http://caps.gmu.edu/ and by telephone at: 703-993-2380. CAPS services are free to Mason students, and include one-on-one stress and anxiety counseling, and Academic Skills Workshops that can teach students how to ‘study smarter’ and make the most of your higher education.
Improving Academic Writing: Strong writing is a skill that is learned through guided instruction and practice. Strong writing skills are likely to be a benefit for students pursuing academic or industry careers in most domains. Students who seek to improve their academic writing are encouraged to do so by visiting the GMU Writing Center. Information can be found online at: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/ 461Weekly Schedule and Assignments Date & Topics
Reading Assignments (Finish BEFORE class)
Aug 28 Aug 30
Overview of the Course What is Human-Factors psychology?
Bohem-Davis (2003) pg. 219-231
Sep 4 Sep 6
Origins of HF: Industrialization Origins of HF: Industrialization and Production
Bohem-Davis (2003) pg. 231-253 Cowan (1973)
Sep 11 Sep 13
Origins of HF: Machines of War 1800-1918 Origins of HF: Machines During WWII
Herring (2008) Roscoe (1997)
Sep 18 Sep 20
Origins of HF: Electronics Exam 1
Mascari (2008) Review for Exam 1!
Sep 25 Sep 27
Exam 1 Returned & Reviewed Cognitive Attributes: Sensory Memory - Project 1 Assigned
Gaffney (2000)
Oct 2 Oct 4
Cognitive Attributes: Working Memory & Attention Cognitive Attributes: Long-Term Memory
Project 1 Due Vockell (2000)
Oct 9 Oct 11
Cognitive Attributes: Perception Cognitive Attributes: Vigilance
Wise (2011) Mackworth (1969)
Oct 16
Cognitive Attributes: Fixation Effects
Luchins (1946)
Oct 18
Exam 2
Review for Exam 2!
Oct 23 Oct 25
Exam 2 Returned & Reviewed HF Skills: Heuristic Evaluations
Dumas (2007) Nielsen (1990); Gaver (1991)
Oct 30 Nov 1
HF Skills: Concurrent Think Aloud and Retrospective Probing HF Skills: Keystroke Level Modeling Project 2 Assigned
Birns et al. (2002) Kieras (2001)
Nov 6 Nov 8
HF Skills: Prototyping Guest Speakers Panel (TBA)
McKee (2007); Tognazzini (1994) Project 2 Due
Nov 13 Nov 15
HF Skills: Applied Cognitive Task Analysis – Project 3 Assigned HF Skills: Usability Testing
Militello & Hutton (1998) Spool (2007)
Nov 20 Nov 22
HF Skills: Usability Testing (continued) THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!
Christian (2012)
Nov 27 Nov 29
HF Skills: Usability Testing (continued) Exam 3
Project 3 Due Review for Exam 3!
Dec 4 Dec 6 TBA
Exam 3 Returned & Reviewed – Semester Standing Reviewed Professional Development: Getting Involved in HF Psychology Final Exam
Bring all Graded Assignments Bottoms & Nysse (1999)
Final Caveat This syllabus and schedule are provided for your information. The reading schedule and reading assignments are what is anticipated, but may change as deemed necessary – any changes will be announced in advance both in class and online.
MEMORANDUM TO: CHSS Curriculum Committee FROM: James Sanford DATE: October 24, 2012 RE: New Course Approval Form for PSYC 340: Human Factors Psychology
PSYC 340 - Human Factors Psychology Catalog description: A review of the history and current practice of optimal product and system design as a function of psychology. Topics include a brief history of human factors psychology, a review of human memory and attentional systems as they relate to product and system design, and an introduction to current methods used to analyze and redesign products and systems for optimal human interaction. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 or permission of instructor. Rationale: This course proposal was approved by department faculty on October 10, 2012. It has been offered as a special topics offering on two occasions, and it has attracted an enrollment in the upper 20s both times. It has sufficient rigor to be offered at the upper division level and fills an important hole in the curriculum. At present, Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HFAC) is the only specialty offered among Psychology Department Ph.D. programs that does not have a stand-alone undergraduate course in its area. Nearly any faculty member affiliated with the HFAC can teach this course. If approved, faculty plan to add this course to the menu of courses that meets the Applied Psychology requirement of majors.
For approval of new courses and deletions or modifications to an existing course.
Course Appro val Form
registrar.gmu.edu/facultystaff/curriculum
Action Requested:
Course Level:
X Create new course Delete existing course Modify existing course (check all that apply) Title Prereq/coreq Other:
College/School: Submitted by: Subject Code:
Credits Schedule Type
Repeat Status Restrictions
CHSS Sara Montiel PSYC
X Undergraduate Graduate Grade Type
Department: 3-1759 Ext:
Number:
Effective Term:
340
Psychology Email: X
(Do not list multiple codes or numbers. Each course proposal must have a separate form.)
Title:
Fall Spring Summer
[email protected]
Year
2013
Current Banner (30 characters max including spaces) New Human Factors Psychology
Credits:
X
(check one)
Grade Mode:
Fixed Variable
X
(check one)
or to
3
X
Repeat Status: (check one)
Regular (A, B, C, etc.) Satisfactory/No Credit Special (A, B C, etc. +IP)
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or permission of instructor.
Not Repeatable (NR) Repeatable within degree (RD) Repeatable within term (RT) X
Schedule Type Code(s): (check all that apply)
Lecture (LEC) Lab (LAB) Recitation (RCT) Internship (INT)
Corequisite(s):
Maximum credits allowed: Independent Study (IND) Seminar (SEM) Studio (STU)
Instructional Mode: X 100% face-to-face Hybrid: ≤ 50% electronically delivered 100% electronically delivered
Special Instructions: (list restrictions for major, college, or degree;hard-coding; etc.)
Are there equivalent course(s)? Yes X No If yes, please list
Catalog Co py for NEW C ourses Only (Consult University Catalog for models) Description (No more than 60 words, use verb phrases and present tense)
Notes (List additional information for the course)
Reviews history and current practice of optimal product and system design as a function of psychology. Includes a brief history of human factors psychology, a review of human memory and attentional systems as they relate to product and system design, and an introduction to current methods used to analyze and redesign products and systems for optimal human interaction. Indicate number of contact hours: When Offered: (check all that apply)
Hours of Lecture or Seminar per week: Fall Summer Spring
Hours of Lab or Studio:
A pproval Signatures Department Approval
Date
College/School Approval
Date
If this course includes subject matter currently dealt with by any other units, the originating department must circulate this proposal for review by those units and obtain the necessary signatures prior to submission. Failure to do so will delay action on this proposal.
Unit Name
Unit Approval Name
Unit Approver’s Signature
Date
For Gra du at e C o urs es Only Graduate Council Member
Provost Office
Graduate Council Approval Date
For Registrar Office's Use Only: Banner
_ Catalog
_
revised 2/2/10
Human Factors Psychology Psychology 340 Fall 2012 Instructor: Robert J. Youmans, Ph.D. Office Hours: Wednesdays 10-11AM and by appointment Phone: (703) 993 -5627 Class Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 12-1:15PM Email: [email protected] Location: Enterprise Hall 275 Office: 2057 David King Website: https://sites.google.com/site/psy461/ Course Description and Objectives Human Factors is a specialization of psychology that studies how humans interact with technology and how those interactions may be made better (e.g., more safe, efficient, easy to learn, intuitive, enjoyable, etc.). Today human Factors psychologists work at companies that produce technology like Apple Computers, Google, and Microsoft Gaming, but they also work for media companies, medical device manufacturers, and in the design of automobiles and other forms of transportation. This course is designed around three ‘core’ topics: (1) the history and development of Human Factors, (2) the cognitive psychology and attributes of humans, and (3) an introduction to product evaluation techniques. Course Structure and Reading Assignments Before you decide to continue in this course, there are several considerations that should be made. First, Human Factors is still a young science, and because it is young, I have collected a variety of reading sources, including experimental articles on psychology, book chapters, industry guides, historical and contemporary interactive products for evaluation, etc. I do this to keep costs down for the student, and also because it is my intention to make this course interesting, relevant, and on the cutting-edge of science. Second, this course will require your active participation. There will be activities and reading completed both inside and outside of class. These activities provide experience learning about and applying human factors principles and research methodology to the analysis and evaluation of contemporary human factors problems. Without a standard textbook to guide you, this course may be different than some of the others you have taken. It isn’t designed to be more difficult, but it will require much of students by way of reading, discussion, and some time outside of class working on projects. Please see me immediately if you have concerns about continuing with the class because of the course workload or structure. Course Assignments and Grading Examinations Examinations will measure students’ mastery of the material covered in the textbook and class lectures using a format of my choosing. Exams may include multiple-choice, drawing, matching, fill-in-the-blank, short or long essay questions, hangman, crosswords puzzles, and so on. There will be three examinations, and one final, each worth 40 points (see final exam information below). The lowest exam will be dropped, for a total of 120 exam points. Please bring something to write with on exam days, but no other materials are required (e.g., I do not use Scantron sheets). NOTE: The grade for a missed exam will be a 0. Makeup exams will be given only when a student gains prior approval to take a makeup exam, or when he or she provides official documentation clearly indicating that circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., a serious illness, serious automotive accident with documentation, death in the family, or other CSUN-approved absence). A note from a friend or family member is not acceptable documentation. Quizzes Quizzes motivate students to attend class, arrive on time, and complete the assigned readings. Quizzes are unannounced, and will usually cover material from that day’s reading assignment(s). Throughout the semester, I will administer quizzes at the beginning of class. If you are absent from class or arrive late after the quiz has been distributed, you will not be allowed to take the quiz and will receive no points. Some quizzes will be worth 5 points, but many will be worth 10 points, for a total of 70 quiz points
Human Factors Projects In addition to reading and thinking about the concepts covered in the text, an important part of the learning process includes applying these concepts. Thus, you will complete three human-factors projects outside the class. Each project will be worth 20 points, for a total of 60 project points. Final Exam The final exam will be given at a time scheduled by the university. It will be formatted like the other exams, but will cover material from the entire semester. The final exam is worth 40 points, and can be dropped if becoming a student’s lowest exam grade. Bonus Points or Extra Credit No extra credit will be given in this course unless otherwise announced. Students who are performing poorly in the class are encouraged to see me during office hours to discuss how they may improve their performance on exams, quizzes, or projects, but no bonus points or extra credit points are available. Computing Your Final Grade Your letter grade will be calculated by dividing the number of points you earn by the total number of points possible to earn (250 points). Please do not approach me about bending the class rules to make personal exceptions about your grade: I take fair and equitable treatment of all students seriously and every student will be subject to the same grading standards outlined below. Where there are fractions of a point determining the difference between letter grades, I will round to the nearest whole number. The chart below should be useful for determining your course standings: Source Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3* Quizzes Projects *Note that one exam (or the final) will be dropped.
Maximum Score 40 points 40 Points 40 points 70 points 60 points Total: 250 points
A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF
Determining Your Letter Grade 100-93% 231-250 points 92-90% 224-230 points 89-87% 216-223 points 86-83% 207-215 points 82-80% 200-206 points 79-77% 192-199 points 76-73% 182-191 points 72-70% 175-181 points 69-67% 167-174 points 66-63% 157-166 points 62-60% 150-156 points 59% or below 150 points or below
Attendance Attendance is required in all lecture sessions without exception, and will be taken at my discretion, including formal roll calls, attendance quizzes, or in my mind (i.e., when I notice that you are absent from a course or lecture). As a courtesy, I will allow two unexcused absences before punitive actions are taken. After two unexcused absence, you will incur a penalty of a reduction in your final course grade of half a letter grade for each unexcused absence (e.g., a student who earns a grade of “A-” and who misses three classes would receive a grade of “B+,” a “C-” would become a “D,” etc.).No ‘make-up work’ will be allowed unless an absence is for a university-approved reason (serious illness with documentation, etc.), or unless you make arrangements with me in advance (strongly recommended!). Please do not arrive late to class. Being late disrupts other students who are on time, may cause you to miss quizzes, and also risks being counted absent (see attendance policy above). Students who miss quizzes or other materials because of lateness will not be given the opportunity to make up the work. GMU Honor Code
George Mason University has an Honor Code that each student accepts as a condition of enrollment. This code is consistent with APA’s ethical principles for working professionals, and it is required that each student adhere to the Honor Code. For this course, group studying is expected and encouraged, but all students are required to produce original work on all assignments unless otherwise noted. Plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and other failures to follow the GMU honor code will result in disciplinary actions that include receiving a failing grade for this course, along with referral to the GMU Honor Committee for further review and documentation of the offense. A lack of knowledge about what constitutes a violation of the GMU honor code is not a defense against possible violations; it is your responsibility as a GMU student to review and adhere to this code. If you have ANY questions about plagiarism or the GMU honor code, I encourage students to review the code for themselves at: http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/ Performing at Your Best Learning Accommodations: It is my policy, as well as the university’s, to accommodate all students with
disabilities that might affect their learning, course participation, or assignment completion. If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please feel free to speak with me about making appropriate accommodations and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474, or online at http://ods.gmu.edu/ - accommodations will be arranged through that office. Stress and Academics: Let’s face it, being a student can be stressful, and life events can create anxiety or depression that can hurt anybody’s academic performance. GMU is committed to helping students maintain their emotional well-being through the GMU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office, located online at: http://caps.gmu.edu/ and by telephone at: 703-993-2380. CAPS services are free to Mason students, and include one-on-one stress and anxiety counseling, and Academic Skills Workshops that can teach students how to ‘study smarter’ and make the most of your higher education.
Improving Academic Writing: Strong writing is a skill that is learned through guided instruction and practice. Strong writing skills are likely to be a benefit for students pursuing academic or industry careers in most domains. Students who seek to improve their academic writing are encouraged to do so by visiting the GMU Writing Center. Information can be found online at: http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/ 461Weekly Schedule and Assignments Date & Topics
Reading Assignments (Finish BEFORE class)
Aug 28 Aug 30
Overview of the Course What is Human-Factors psychology?
Bohem-Davis (2003) pg. 219-231
Sep 4 Sep 6
Origins of HF: Industrialization Origins of HF: Industrialization and Production
Bohem-Davis (2003) pg. 231-253 Cowan (1973)
Sep 11 Sep 13
Origins of HF: Machines of War 1800-1918 Origins of HF: Machines During WWII
Herring (2008) Roscoe (1997)
Sep 18 Sep 20
Origins of HF: Electronics Exam 1
Mascari (2008) Review for Exam 1!
Sep 25 Sep 27
Exam 1 Returned & Reviewed Cognitive Attributes: Sensory Memory - Project 1 Assigned
Gaffney (2000)
Oct 2 Oct 4
Cognitive Attributes: Working Memory & Attention Cognitive Attributes: Long-Term Memory
Project 1 Due Vockell (2000)
Oct 9 Oct 11
Cognitive Attributes: Perception Cognitive Attributes: Vigilance
Wise (2011) Mackworth (1969)
Oct 16
Cognitive Attributes: Fixation Effects
Luchins (1946)
Oct 18
Exam 2
Review for Exam 2!
Oct 23 Oct 25
Exam 2 Returned & Reviewed HF Skills: Heuristic Evaluations
Dumas (2007) Nielsen (1990); Gaver (1991)
Oct 30 Nov 1
HF Skills: Concurrent Think Aloud and Retrospective Probing HF Skills: Keystroke Level Modeling Project 2 Assigned
Birns et al. (2002) Kieras (2001)
Nov 6 Nov 8
HF Skills: Prototyping Guest Speakers Panel (TBA)
McKee (2007); Tognazzini (1994) Project 2 Due
Nov 13 Nov 15
HF Skills: Applied Cognitive Task Analysis – Project 3 Assigned HF Skills: Usability Testing
Militello & Hutton (1998) Spool (2007)
Nov 20 Nov 22
HF Skills: Usability Testing (continued) THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!
Christian (2012)
Nov 27 Nov 29
HF Skills: Usability Testing (continued) Exam 3
Project 3 Due Review for Exam 3!
Dec 4 Dec 6 TBA
Exam 3 Returned & Reviewed – Semester Standing Reviewed Professional Development: Getting Involved in HF Psychology Final Exam
Bring all Graded Assignments Bottoms & Nysse (1999)
Final Caveat This syllabus and schedule are provided for your information. The reading schedule and reading assignments are what is anticipated, but may change as deemed necessary – any changes will be announced in advance both in class and online.
