Entry requirements
Master students specialisation Applied Cognitive Psychology.
Description
New technologies provide the means to build wonderful interactive software products to shape the world to our needs. However, if not designed well, they can be a source of frustration and annoyance. Knowledge of human factors (e.g. human performance, ergonomic design, and aesthetics) is crucial to make the right design decisions.
This course provides an overview of cognitive issues involved in designing, using and evaluating interactive software products. Recent approaches in the academic field of Human Computer Interaction are discussed. In addition, students are familiarized with the role of (cognitive) psychologists in the user centered design process and the practical field of user experience consultancy in commercial settings.
In addition, students are familiarized with the role of (cognitive) psychologists in the user centered design process and the practical field of user experience consultancy in commercial settings. The course features guest speakers sharing their expertise, and field trips to state of the art usability labs. In practical assignments students act as user experience consultants and evaluate the usability of commercial websites, in collaboration with major ICT companies.
Course objectives
Students learn to apply their (cognitive) psychological knowledge to understand and improve the user experience of websites and other software products.
Students gain knowledge of research in Human Computer Interaction
Students acquire a practical skill set for analysing websites and software.
Students are familiarized with the practical field of user experience consultancy and the career opportunities for (cognitive) psychologists in software development.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, work groups and exams, please select your study programme in:
Psychology timetables
Registration
Course
Students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions.
Master’s course registration
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date. Students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
14 Lectures (attendance mandatory)
Student assignments
Practical exercises
Assessment method
Active participation, project reports.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken. Please see the information concerning fraud.
Reading list
Course lecture sheets, papers
Contact information
Drs. Pascal Haazebroek
phaazebroek@fsw.leidenuniv.nl