Overview

This unit focuses on the application of theories and principles of behaviour and cognition to areas beyond the laboratory, such as design and engineering, organisational settings and workplaces, and education and training.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast the human factors research methods used in the laboratory with those used in real world domains
  • Examine human sensory systems in terms of the constraints they place on human information processing in the context of machine interfaces and technology
  • Outline aspects of human cognition including memory, attention, and decision-making
  • Evaluate different methods of measuring mental and physical workload
  • Apply appropriate human factors research methods to specific problems in a real world domain
  • Critically evaluate contemporary studies on the application of human factors psychology to real world domains

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Workshop		3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various		5.00 12 weeks 60
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1Individual 40% 5,6 
Assignment 2Individual 30% 1,2,3,4 
Reflective JournalIndividual 30% 1,2,3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Research methods in human factors psychology
  • Sensory systems and perception
  • Cognition and decision-making
  • Mental and physical workload and attention
  • Human-machine interaction
  • Automation
  • Selection, training and performance

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.