Human Factors EXP 5990

Spring 2000 Final Exam

Directions: Please answer each of the following questions. Please try to keep answers to 2 typed pages or less each. Be specific and creative with your responses. Though all questions can be answered with only the assigned readings (and your own creativity), you may use outside sources if you choose (please provide those references).

1. In your own words define Situation Awareness (SA). Provide an example of a task requiring SA that was discussed in class. How would you attempt to improve one’s SA for this task? What aspect of the Human Information Processing model is targeted with your approach?
2. While making important decisions we all tend to fall victim to different biases in decision making. Given a complex decision making task such as choosing stocks, making an expensive purchase (e.g., car or house), diagnosing a medical or psychological disorder, or make up your own task, describe how some of these biases may negatively affect the decision. Briefly describe how the decision making process could be modeled using a decision support system.
3. In the article, "Set Phasers to Stun," there were a number of problems with the design of the Therac-25 Cancer Radiation Therapy machine that caused the death of a patient. Address some of these problems as they related to the principles discussed in chapter 9 of Wickens & Hollands. What else should be considered in designing a better version of this device?
4. Briefly describe a situation where stress was a factor in your decreased performance. Describe the various stressors involved (may be psychological and/or environmental) and how each negatively impacted performance. What techniques would have been useful in this situation to eliminate or reduce the impact of stress?