Engineering psychology

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The engineering psychology is a branch of applied psychology treats that human experience and behavior in terms of dealing with technical systems.

This is a sub-area of work psychology , which is about incorporating knowledge about typical human abilities and limitations with regard to information acquisition and information processing in the design of technical systems in such a way that the most efficient overall human-machine system is created. In this context, cognitive psychology or an industrial psychology understood as a cognitive activity theory methodologically plays an essential role.

Subject

The subjects of engineering psychology are system reliability, human error and reliability, information and communication, problem solving, information technology, decision-making, job-related qualification, control and monitoring of industrial processes, vehicle control, human-machine systems and usability .

The relevance of engineering psychology is to make a contribution to the understanding of the rapid change in human work processes in the age of flexible automation and computer-aided global communication and to show design options in this regard. This claim shares the engineering psychology with the ergonomics , the software ergonomics and other conceptual approaches to the given topic as human-computer interaction , usability and cognitive ergonomics.

Engineering psychologists analyze, develop and implement products and socio-technical systems. They shape the interaction between humans and machines. They make technology intuitive through their knowledge of people, their behavior and cognitive abilities. Engineering psychologists ensure high serviceability (English usability.), Safety and acceptance of products and are in all technical industries, IT, medical technology and demand in the sports and leisure goods industry, for example in the following areas:

  • Product design and development
  • Interaction design
  • Product and project management
  • Empirical research and method development
  • Working in interdisciplinary teams
  • Advice, services and training.

education

Engineering psychology can be taken as a bachelor's degree on the Tuttlingen campus of Furtwangen University in the Industrial Technologies faculty. The seven-semester engineering psychology course combines the disciplines of technology and psychology and is unique in Germany as a Bachelor program. The Technical University of Dresden also offers various modules on engineering psychology in the bachelor's and master's degree in psychology . The Technical University of Berlin also offers training in the field of engineering psychology with the Human Factors master’s course.

literature

  • Winfried Hacker : General work and engineering psychology : Verlag Hans Huber 1986. ISBN 3-456-80443-1
  • B. Zimolong & U. Konradt (Eds.) Engineering Psychology : 2006. Göttingen: Hogrefe. ISBN 3-801-71508-6
  • Vollrath, M. (2015). Engineering Psychology: Psychological Basics and Areas of Application . Kohlhammer Verlag.
  • Wickens, CD, Hollands, JG, Banbury, S., & Parasuraman, R., (2013). Engineering psychology and human performance (4th ed). Pearson Academic.

Web links