{"id":12998,"date":"2024-12-12T09:48:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humanfactors.uni-mainz.de\/?page_id=12998"},"modified":"2026-10-08T16:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:01:21","slug":"teaching","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/humanfactors.uni-mainz.de\/en\/teaching\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/jgu-base-pageheader>\n
<\/div>\n\n

General Information About the \u201cHuman Factors\u201d Master\u2019s Program at JGU<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The \u201cHuman Factors\u201d master\u2019s program is one of five psychology master\u2019s programs at JGU Mainz. Its official name is therefore M.Sc. in Psychology with a Human Factors Profile. The program consists of 9 modules (A\u2013J). Five modules overlap with the other psychology master\u2019s programs. Three modules plus the capstone module are specific to Human Factors. On this page, you will find an overview of Human Factors-specific modules and courses. <\/p>\n\n

In the module handbook <\/a><\/strong>for the Human Factors master\u2019s program, you can find information on psychology modules as well as those specializing in human factors. There are three such modules, comprising a total of seven courses. These are modules E, F, and I. <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

COURCES (SUMMER \/ WINTER) AND PLACEMENT OF MODULES WITHIN THE MASTER’S PROGRAM <\/p>\n\n \n<\/jgu-base-image>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

\n SoSe 2026
\n <\/h3>\n
\n\n Module E \u2013 Fundamentals of Human Factors Psychology
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n Why do planes crash even when the technology is working perfectly?
\nWhy do people make mistakes that could actually be avoided, and how can
\nthis be prevented through better design?\n <\/p>\n

\n Human factors psychology places people at the center
\nof technical systems. In this seminar, you will learn how perception, attention,
\nand decision-making processes shape interactions with machines, AI, and autonomous
\nsystems\u2014and what this means for the design of safe, user-friendly
\ntechnologies. Whether it\u2019s autonomous driving, medical
\ndecision support, or human-robot interaction: human factors
\nare relevant wherever people and technology intersect.\n <\/p>\n

\n In addition to theoretical fundamentals, in this course you will actively apply your
\nknowledge through group work, paper discussions, and interactive
\npractical examples.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Module F \u2013 Human Factors Methods
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n During the \u201cHuman Factors Methods\u201d seminar, the key
\nmethodological approaches in human factors research are systematically presented.
\nThese range from careful study design to observation and analysis techniques
\nand on to measurement and simulation methods in the laboratory. Accompanying
\npractical exercises ensure that participants not only
\ngain a theoretical understanding of the methods covered but also apply them directly themselves.\n <\/p>\n

\n The focus is not only on the \u201cwhat,\u201d but also on the \u201cwhy\u201d: When is
\nwhich method appropriate, and how meaningful is it? Over the course of
\nthe semester, students develop a personal toolkit of methods that they can later
\ndraw upon at any time\u2014whether when planning their own studies,
\nwriting their master\u2019s thesis, or critically evaluating others\u2019 research.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Module I \u2013 Fundamentals of Applied Cognitive Psychology
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n How should a robot interact with a human? And what do you need to know about
\nhuman perception, cognition, and behavior in order to design such interactions
\neffectively? In interdisciplinary teams composed of computer science and
\npsychology students, you will explore these questions in the seminar \u201cFundamentals of
\nApplication-Oriented Cognitive Psychology.”\n <\/p>\n

\n The focus is on the question of how humans and machines can interact meaningfully
\nwith one another. To this end, you will tackle real-world, societal
\nissues: You will conduct research, speak with stakeholders, conduct
\ninterviews, and develop your own ideas based on this work. These
\nideas will be gradually transformed into an interactive robotics prototype,
\nwhich you will test, evaluate, and refine through multiple iterations. The
\nseminar not only teaches the cognitive psychological foundations of
\nhuman-machine interaction but also practical methods of
\nhuman-centered design, user-centered research, and prototype development.
\nAnyone who wants to know how good human-robot interaction is created will have
\nthe opportunity here to find out exactly that for themselves.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \"Image\n <\/td>\n\n \"Image\n <\/td>\n\n \"Image\n <\/td>\n\n \"Image\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n\n Module I \u2013 Special Topics in Applied Cognitive Psychology
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n unknown\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n

\n WiSe 2026\/27
\n <\/h3>\n
\n\n Modul E \u2013 Human Factors Design
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n How should a cleaning robot be designed so that it is accepted in a busy train station
\nby commuters, children, and blind passersby alike?
\nIn the HF-Design seminar, you\u2019ll explore this question using the methods of the
\nhuman-centered design process. From requirements analysis to
\npersonas and prototyping, all the way to usability testing, you\u2019ll go through the
\nentire design process in small groups and develop your own
\ninteraction concepts.\n <\/p>\n

\n The seminar combines theory and practice in a project-based format
\nand teaches skills that are in high demand
\nin research, industry, and UX design.\n <\/p>\n

\n \"Bild\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Modul E \u2013 Human Factors Special Topics
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n This course addresses current issues in artificial intelligence
\nfrom the perspective of human factors and engineering psychology. As
\nAI systems are increasingly integrated into work processes, education, mobility,
\nhealthcare, and everyday life, the question arises as to
\nhow these systems can be designed to meaningfully support human
\ncapabilities, remain transparent, and
\nbe used responsibly. Topics covered include, among others,
\ntrust in AI systems, transparency and explainability, fairness, acceptance,
\nand the use of AI in various social and
\nprofessional contexts.
The seminar combines the reading, presentation, and discussion of current
\nacademic literature with practice-oriented work sessions in which
\nAI applications are analyzed, evaluated, and designed as examples. The goal
\nof the course is to critically assess key psychological and design-related
\nissues in dealing with AI systems and to apply them to
\nspecific use cases.
\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Modul F \u2013 Project
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n Intelligent technologies are increasingly shaping everyday life and the workplace.
\nAt the same time, new psychological and social
\nchallenges are emerging, such as mistrust, manipulation, or dysfunctional
\nforms of human-AI interaction. The \u201cHuman Factors\u201d project seminar examines
\nthese phenomena from an engineering psychology perspective.\n <\/p>\n

\n Students choose their own research topic and develop a
\nscientifically viable research question based on a
\nsocially relevant problem. Building on this, they design a theoretically sound
\nstudy design and address the methodological, practical, and ethical
\naspects of study planning.\n <\/p>\n

\n The focus is on research-oriented work: In addition to developing
\na study design, the seminar also covers resource and
\nbudget planning, as well as a critical reflection on the validity and limitations of the
\nplanned study.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Module I \u2013 Fundamentals of Applied Cognitive Psychology
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n unknown\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/details>\n

\n\n Module I \u2013 Special Topics in Applied Cognitive Psychology
\n <\/summary>\n
\n

\n Robots are increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives, whether at work, in
\nhealthcare, or in public spaces. But how do people actually
\nperceive robots? When do people trust them, when do they make people feel uneasy, and what
\nhappens when a robot suddenly displays emotions?\n <\/p>\n

\n In this seminar, robotics is consistently examined from a psychological perspective.
\nThe focus is on reading and discussing current research.
\nIn addition, the psychological constructs discussed in the literature
\nwill be explored together in a hands-on manner. For this purpose, three robots\u2014some of which are quite
\ndifferent\u2014are available, ranging from a collaborative robotic arm to a social,
\nemotionally expressive robot to a walking humanoid.\n <\/p>\n

\n Examples of topics:\n <\/p>\n