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Engineering Psychology

Course developer

Replaced course

Psih4003 [GPSI4003] Engineering Psychology

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to improve knowledge of the history of engineering psychology, the main theoretical models, research directions, as well as the interaction of information between the worker and technique, to find out the means and methods of professional adaptation, understand human psychophysiological characteristics, learn and review the basics of ergonomics at work. Students learn about the diversity of psycho-emotional load at work and the operator's decision-making process. Within the course, students develop skills to discuss and substantiate their opinion, think creatively and look for innovative solutions to problems. Working in a group, analyzing situations and problems promotes students' ability to see, formulate, evaluate and find the most suitable solutions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - of engineering psychology systems and their use at work, improvement of work technological properties. Knows the directions of psychology, research methods, tasks, history - 1st test. Knows the differences between engineering science and engineering psychology, main directions, history - 2nd test. Knows the history of ergonomics, application at work, essence - practical work / group work, presentations.
Skills - ability to analyze, create a description of the human-machine system - homework.

Competence - in the practical application of engineering psychology in the design of new machines - seminar. Students are able to find the necessary information, substantiate their opinion, develop presentation skills - practical work / group work, presentation creation.

Course Content(Calendar)

Full time intramural studies:
1. Dating, self-presentation. 2h.
2. Introduction to studies / engineering psychology. History and directions of psychology. 1h.
1st group work: presentation creation and information finding skills. 1h.
1st test - Understanding of the goals and tasks of psychology. 1h.
3. History of engineering science. 1h.
4. Engineering psychology. Management systems. 2h.
2nd test - History of engineering science and engineering psychology, tasks, main directions. 1h.
5. History and essence of ergonomics. 1h.
2nd group work: formation and presentation on the development and essence of ergonomics in the workplace. 1h.
6. Systems and their use at work. 2h.
7. Improvement of technological properties of work. 2h.
8. System human-technique (machine) description. 2h.
Independent work - creation a description of the human technique of any student's choice system. 1h.
9. Human role system operation. Signals. 2h.
10. Classification of methods and their application in engineering psychology. 2h.
11. Perception and its features. 1h.
12. Attention and it's properties. 1h.
13. Determination of the operator's functional states. Phases of change of functional states. 2h.
14. Operator stages: information processing and decision making. 2h.
15. Workload. 2h.
16. Seminar: Practical application of engineering psychology in designing new machines. 2h.
Part time extramural studies:

All topics specified for full time studies are accomplished, but the number of contact hours is one half of the number specified in the calendar

Requirements for awarding credit points

• Successfully completed independent work and practical work.
• Successfully completed homework and test assignments.
• At least 75% class attendance.
• Final result – test.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1st homework: independent work, create a description of any (at the student's choice) human-equipment system (volume up to 4 pages, submitted electronically).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final grade is dependent on the cumulative score of assignments and practical works, as well as attendance.

Compulsory reading

1. Garleja R. Darbs, organizācija, psiholoģija. Rīga: RaKa, 2010. 205 lpp.
2. Inovatīva domāšana. Rīga: SIA “Lietišķās informācijas dienests”, 2007. 203 lpp. “Harvard Business Review on” grāmatu sērija.
3. Kroemer K., Kroemer H., Kroemer-Elbert K. Engineering Physiology: Bases of Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics. Berlin: Springer, 2010. 350 p.

4. Roja Ž. Ergonomikas pamati. Rīgā, 2008. 190 lpp.

Further reading

1. Reņģe V. Mūsdienu organizāciju psiholoģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 215 lpp.
2. Cтрелков Ю.К. Инженерная и профессиональная психология. Mосква: Академия, 2005. 360 c.

3. Куликов О.Н., Ролин Е.И. Безопасность труда на предприятиях строительных материалов, изделий и конструкций. Mосква: Академия, 2011. 368 c.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychology. ISSN 0891-0685. Pieejams: http://www.apa.org/about/division/div21.aspx

Notes

Compulsory course in full-time and part-time studies of FEIT professional higher education bachelor study program Applied Energy Engineering.