Student Research

Undergraduate Research

Many undergraduate students desire to assist in conducting research for the human factors engineering department. Whether it’s for education, earning credit, or just for fun, participating in research can provide a variety of benefits. See the Facilities page for information about the Human Factors’ labs on campus

 

Past Graduate Students

The following is a sampling of Tufts graduate-level theses in the area of Human Factors Engineering (Pictured above).   Note: Some of the hyperlinks will bring you to sources that require login (good luck with that….).

  1. An Exploration into Framing Effects and Information Preferences: Implications for the Design of Energy Feedback Interfaces

    This 2013 study by Peter Taylor-Brown aims to discover ways in which good user interface design can reduce household electricity consumption. The findings suggest that users may lower their electricity use depending on how a household device displays the amount of energy it consumes.

  2. Application of human factors engineering in the redesign of an oscillating bone saw to reduce high risk postures of the wrist and to enhance performance

    This 2015 thesis by Tufts graduate Tabitha A. Solomon focuses on improving the ergonomics of a medical device known as a ‘bone saw.’ The study examines the effectiveness and ease of use of three unique bone saw prototypes and compares them to the original (or standard) design.

  3. Effects of Prototype Medium on User Feedback in Product Evaluation

    This 2016 thesis by Andrew Stockton Bennett compares the effect that physical versus virtual (rendered) prototypes have on product evaluation. It proposes that the quality, aesthetics, performance, and features of a simple physical product (e.g. light bulb, door knob) can be more thoroughly evaluated when the prototype is physical rather than rendered.

  4. Effect of Information Sources on Airport Ground Vehicle Operators’ Positional Awareness

  5. Minimum age and developmental capabilities indicating readiness for self-administration with home health care devices of varying complexities: An empirical investigation and quantitative complexity model

  6. A human factors approach to enhance motivation to collaborate in an online learning environment

  7. Uncovering barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a surgical checklist from a joint cognitive systems perspective

  8. Roadmap to the implementation of best practices in human factors voluntary reporting for safety