Course Outline: Human Factors Psychology/Internship/Senior Project I (PSY440)

Course Information

• Department: Psychology
• Prepared By: Psychology Department
• Prepared Date: Fall 2017
• Course Code: PSY 440 
• Credits: 3
• Contact Hours: 90 HOURS OF INTERNSHIP TIME, 15 HOURS OF ONCE PER WEEK SEMINAR/CLASS

Catalog Description

This course will provide seniors in the Human Factors Concentration with the opportunity to apply human factors knowledge and methods in an actual work environment.  A variety of options will be available for completion of this course:  internship, research assistantship, or independent project.  In an internship, the student will work in a local business, laboratory, or service organization.  As a research assistant, the student will work with a faculty member as an assistant in their ongoing research or consulting. Alternatively, students may develop an independent project under the supervision of a faculty member.  The selection of which option is best will be made by the student and his/her advisor based on which best meets the student's educational and career goals.  Regardless of the option selected, each student will attend seminars and complete a research or design project. Prerequisite(s): Senior Status in Human Factors Psychology Concentration. Credits: 3 (1,0,2)

• Prerequisites: Senior status in Human Factors Psychology Concentration.
• Required For: Applied Psychology Program, Human Factors Concentration.
• Elective For: None
• Required Text: Text selection at instructor's discretion.

Course Description

PSY 440 is primarily a field work course although attendance is also required at several seminars.  Students placed at internship locations will have a designated supervisor at the placement site who will communicate with the course professor regarding the students performance and progress.This course will provide seniors in the Human Factors Concentration with the opportunity to apply human factors knowledge and methods in an actual work environment.  A variety of options will be available for completion of this course: internship, research assistantship, or independent project.  In an internship, the student will work in a local business, laboratory, or service organization. As a research assistant, the student will work with a faculty member as an assistant in their ongoing research.  Alternatively, students may develop an independent project of their own under the supervision of faculty member.  The selection of which option is best will be made in by the student and his/her advisor based on which best meets the student's educational and career goals. Regardless of the option selected, each student will attend seminars and complete a research or design project.

Behavioral Objectives

1. The student will acquire an improved understanding of the current theories of human factors by applying them in a realistic research project or work setting.
2. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of a specific area of human factors psychology through application of  knowledge to practical issues.
3. The student will develop an ability to work with others and to communicate relevant aspects of this work to supervisors and colleagues.
4. The student will learn how to document the results of research or other human factors related activity in a professional manner.

Course Outline

The following is an overview of the topics to be covered in this course.  Each unit will include relevant theory, current research, and its application.

Independent Project or Research Assistantship

Students electing to perform independent project will work with a faculty member to select a suitable human factors research or design topic. Once selected, the student will be responsible to develop a schedule with milestones that are appropriate to the research or design effort being undertaken. The schedule and milestones will be discussed with the faculty member and will form the basis of submitting materials for comment and grading. 

Internship

Students electing to perform an internship will work with a faculty member to select a suitable position in a research or design oriented company or other approved internship site. Once selected the student will be responsible for developing a schedule with milestones that are appropriate to the internship.  The schedule and milestones will be developed jointly with the faculty member and the internship supervisor.  This schedule and milestone plan will form the basis of submitting materials for comment and grading.  Some examples of milestones for  research and design efforts are listed below.

Sample Milestones for Research and Design Projects

Research Project

1. Topic selection and hypothesis formulation
2. Research proposal - description of the proposed study methodology
3. Pilot test results
4. Completed statistical analysis
5. Draft report for comment
6. Final report

 Design Project

1. Topic selection and description of the expected product or final result
2. Design plan (what human factors analyses will be conducted)
3. Design process analysis results
4. Concept design
5. Design evaluation
6.  Final design documentation