Human Factors Engineering Flashcards
7 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Human Factors Engineering flashcards as text
In signal detection theory (SDT), a liberal criterion (low β) results in:
Answer: More hits but also more false alarms
A liberal criterion means the observer responds 'signal present' more readily, increasing both hits and false alarms simultaneously.
Which workload measurement technique is considered the LEAST intrusive to primary task performance?
Answer: Subjective rating scales (e.g., NASA-TLX)
Subjective rating scales like NASA-TLX are administered after task completion and do not compete for resources during the primary task.
A pilot fixates on a warning light for 2 seconds but fails to recognize its meaning. This is an example of:
Answer: Looked-but-failed-to-see error
Looked-but-failed-to-see errors occur when a stimulus is detected (fixated) but not processed to the level of conscious recognition or comprehension.
The GOMS model in human-computer interaction stands for:
Answer: Goals, Operations, Methods, Selections
GOMS (Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules) is a family of techniques for analyzing and predicting user interaction with computer interfaces.
Which type of human error involves a correct action applied to the wrong object or at the wrong time?
Answer: Slip
Slips are execution failures where the intention is correct but the action deviates — such as pressing the wrong button or acting at the wrong moment.
Which principle of display design states that related information should be grouped and integrated into a single display element rather than presented separately?
Answer: Proximity compatibility principle
The proximity compatibility principle (Wickens & Carswell) states that tasks requiring mental integration benefit from displays that co-locate or integrate the relevant information.
An operator reverts to a previously successful procedure during a novel emergency even though it is inappropriate. This is classified as a:
Answer: Functional fixedness / cognitive fixation
Cognitive fixation (or functional fixedness) occurs when an operator becomes locked on a familiar mental model or solution despite evidence it no longer applies.