Last modified: 28 Jul 2025 16:16
Human Factors is an incredibly broad and diverse subject, ranging from design factors (how can we make products intuitive), to human behaviour (how do people think and act at work - and what influences them), to organisation level issues (workplace environment, messaging around risk and safety). The aim of this course is to provide students with insight into the applications of Psychology and Human Factors within real world environments. You will also learn to conduct incident analysis using accident reports from high-risk industry – enhancing understanding of the factors leading up to accidents.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
How will this course be taught? This in-person course will be delivered primarily by lectures and workshops on the Old Aberdeen campus. You will also be provided with real world case studies, learning exercises, and recommended reading (drawn from the latest research and industrial papers).
What does this course cover? The course will introduce and discuss the concepts of human factors at work, comprising workplace design, work environments, safety critical skills (including teamwork, decision-making, situation awareness and communication), incident analysis and cognitive ergonomics.
Why should I take this course? This course bridges theory and application, providing students with a unique opportunity to learn more about the psychology underpinning core concepts within today’s industry.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3,000-word Case Study Report. All coursework will be marked using a marking rubric with associated quickmarks and feedback via Turnitin. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate incident reports to determine the primary causal factors. |
| Factual | Understand | Understand the key Human Factors that can influence safety at work, and how to minimise or mitigate those factors. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Multiple-choice questions test in class, lasting 50 minutes. All coursework will be marked using a marking rubric with associated quickmarks and students will receive in-class feedback. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Apply knowledge from the course to make recommendations about safe and effective practice at work. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand human behaviour at work and the factors that might influence team-based interactions. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Multiple-choice questions test resit, lasting 50 minutes. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3,000-word Case Study Report resit. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand human behaviour at work and the factors that might influence team-based interactions. |
| Factual | Understand | Understand the key Human Factors that can influence safety at work, and how to minimise or mitigate those factors. |
| Factual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate incident reports to determine the primary causal factors. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Apply knowledge from the course to make recommendations about safe and effective practice at work. |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
