FORMAT
The format of the comprehensive exam has changed. In prior years, candidates for the Master of Science with an emphasis in Human Factors were required to complete a two-hour oral exam. Off-campus students were required to travel to Moscow to complete this exam. This practice has changed. Beginning January 1, 1999, the comprehensive exam for the Human Factors emphasis will depend upon whether or not the student was admitted under the thesis option.
- Thesis Option Students: two separate written exams
- Non-thesis Option Students: four separate written exams
(see details below)
All non-thesis students will be required to complete a three-part written exam. Students must pass Part I prior to completing Part II. Part III is a written research methods and statistics exam. All exams can be administered by an off-campus test proctor or can be taken at the University of Idaho.
TOPICS COVERED BY THE EXAM
Part I: Basic Knowledge - This exam will contain a mix of multiple choice and short-answer items designed to assess students’ understanding of basic principles in Human Factors. Items found on this exam include but are not limited to the topics of:
sensation perception cognition training ergonomics biomechanics design principles human computer interaction engineering psychology safety
This will be a closed-book, two-hour exam.
Part II: Application - The second exam focuses on the ability to integrate basic knowledge to address applied problems. This exam will consist of two or three applied situations that must be addressed by the student. This is an open-book, three-hour exam.
Part III: Research Methods and Statistics - This element is composed of two parts: The research methods exam is a closed book test that assesses the understanding and application of research methods to both laboratory and applied research problems. The statistics exam is an open-book test designed to assess basic statistical competencies.