Human factors psychologists use psychology and engineering to design products that are safe, comfortable, and easy to use. They work in government agencies and private industries, studying human behavior in various settings, including transportation. They typically hold a master’s or doctorate in psychology and have knowledge of computer science and cognitive psychology. Research projects involve measuring the effect of personality, stress, and fatigue on human-machine interaction.
A human factors psychologist researches the abilities and limitations of human behavior, using the information in the design of tools, machines, tasks and work environments. A combination of engineering techniques and psychological theories can be used to design products that are comfortable, safe and easy to use. Much of the work done by a person in this field takes place in the laboratory, where experiments are developed, conducted, and analyzed.
Psychologists working in this profession may be employed by government agencies, including the military. They may also work for private industry, providing information about human behavior for new product development. For example, a human factors psychologist might work for a commercial airline that conducts research on how pilots interact with cockpit equipment. This research could include the effect of automation on human performance or ways to improve pilot seat comfort.
In the transportation industry, a human factors psychologist might study how drivers make decisions, what factors lead to distraction, or how cognition and perception contribute to accidents. The psychologist can also assess the human operation of new technologies used in the automobile industry, including their safety features. New product design typically looks at how humans interact with technology via ergonomics.
Job opportunities may exist as a consultant to administrative departments. A human factors psychologist in this area can research and report on how humans process information and how it relates to job performance. Companies can employ someone in this area to reduce the number of mistakes that affect profits.
A human factors psychologist usually holds a master’s or doctorate in the subject. He or she typically completes courses covering a wide range of psychology, including research methods, statistics, methodology, and physiological psychology. University courses often require research and learning projects outside the university.
Seminars usually focus on organizational psychology and safety. A human factors psychologist needs to understand computer science and how it applies to industrial settings. Cognitive psychology focuses on how people learn using perception and memory at different ages. The psychology of human performance can also be useful when designing products.
Research projects may involve measuring how personality affects job performance when using tools or performing tasks. The psychologist can measure the effect of stress and fatigue on human-machine interaction. Workload studies can be incorporated into research to discover how to reduce human error and improve safety.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
