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What Is Engineering Psychology?
The history of engineering psychology began in the 1940’s, during World War II. The weapons used during this war were somewhat advanced for their time, but they were still not without error. For instance, weapon and equipment malfunction was not uncommon, and these malfunctions often led to costly mistakes. The main reason for the majority of these errors was traced to human error. It was found that the machines and other technologies of the time were not built with the needs and abilities of the users at the time, and they were very difficult to use. To correct this problem, psychologists were brought in to help engineers create more user friendly designs.
Why Do We Need Engineering Psychologists?
What Do Engineering Psychologists Do?
Engineering psychologists typically perform research and work as consultants in fields such as engineering, product design, and software development.
Demographics and user abilities are also a big part of engineering psychology. For example, engineering psychologists are often asked to research which types of people are more likely to buy certain products, based on looks and functionality. They might also be asked to help change a product so that consumers find it easier to use or more appealing.
What Are the Education Requirements to Become an Engineering Psychologist?
Below is the complete educational path for the Psychologists:Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Courses that you may take while working toward your engineering psychology degree often include general psychology, human factors psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, ergonomics, bio-mechanics, human-computer interaction, and statistics.
Where Do Engineering Psychologists Work?
As an engineering psychologist, you will most likely find positions open in a number of different fields. Engineering psychologists work in areas such as software development, computer science, engineering, and aviation. Because an the ease of use of medical equipment can often make the difference between life and death, engineering psychologist positions are also quite common in the medical field.
Employment Outlook & Career Guidance for Engineering Psychologists
Using their training and knowledge to improve the way people interact with machines and other technology, engineering psychologists put their understanding of the human mind and behavior to good use to influence the engineering designs of various products and devices. The work they do plays an important role in the improvement of technology and consumer products, as well as job settings and residential environments. Most engineering psychologists find employment in the private sector, but as technology becomes a more significant part of everyday life, the need for these types of psychologists will continue to increase in other areas.
What Type of Positions Can an Engineering Psychologist Hold?
Professionals who enter this career field typically undergo a certain amount of training that combines both engineering and psychology, including coursework that concentrates on how to integrate the two disciplines. Because of this, engineering psychologists can find work related to nearly any engineering- and industrial-related profession that includes a wide range of fields, such as medical, aviation, the government, and even the computer software industry.
Learn more abouthow to become an engineering psychologist.
Jobs Settings That Provide Positions for Engineering Psychologists
Industry Setting:Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D., who is a professor at the Human Factors and Aging Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Psychology, says engineering psychologists work in industry settings where they concentrate on “formative and summative evaluations of new products and systems.” She says they hold job titles, such as User Experience Researcher, Usability Testing Manager, and User Experience Architect.
Government Setting:Employed ingovernment settings (such as the Department of Defense), engineering psychologists may assume the role of a ‘human factors specialist.’ Job positions are found in various government offices, such as the Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Association, NASA, and all branches of the military.
Business-Related Setting:Engineering psychologists are hired to consult with architects and designers regarding consumer products, such as GPS systems, telephones, cameras, and home appliances.
Aviation-Related Setting:Engineering psychologists complete research and projects that help improve aviation technology, such as air traffic control equipment and making a new piece of airplane equipment easier for a pilot to learn and use.
College and University Setting:In academia, those with a doctorate degree often assume the role of professor, and teach courses, including those that deal with “applied cognitive' or ‘applied experimental psychology.’ According to Rogers, some graduates also find work outside of psychology departments, and may teach courses in computer science, information systems, and industrial engineering. Some academia-related professionals may assume the role of researcher within an institution of higher education – conducting experiments and working towards advancing the overall understanding of the field.
“…jobs are available in all sectors including information/communication technology, education, health,transportation, etc.”
- Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D.
Ways for Engineering Psychologists to Increase Desirability as a Job Candidate
According to Rogers,“developing the tools of the trade"helps mold a more desirable job candidate for an engineering psychologist position – one who is able to fulfill the attributes that an employer typically looks for in an employee, such as:
Featured psychology degree programs someone interested in engineering psychology may consider
:
Before an interview with a potential employer, James P. Bliss, Ph.D., who is a professor and Chair of Old Dominion University’s Department of Psychology suggestsconducting in-depth researchregarding the target job and organization to appear well-informed.
Internshipsalso provide students with experience that enhances their desirability, and strengthens a student’s understanding of the field. Since there is an increasing demand for engineering psychologists,some students have received job offers while still on an internship.
Actively seeking additional training and credentials not only increases a psychologist’s abilities and knowledge, but also helps build a more impressive resume. Professionals whospecialize in a number of different areasalso increase their chances of appealing to a broader range of potential employers. A few specialties to consider include human performance, health care systems and technology, product design, workplace safety, environmental safety, and ergonomics.
–James P. Bliss, Ph.D.
Ways for an Engineering Psychologist to Increase His/Her Salary
While a master’s degree in engineering psychology (or a related field) is generally the minimum requirement for entering this career field, the pay is often much higher for professionals who possess a doctorate degree. Therefore,pursuing a Ph.D. and/or specializationwithin the field can have a positive effect on a professional’s earning potential.
“Proving one’s worth is always critical for professional development and advancement. Be willing to make recommendations, based on literature, your own experience, and targeted research studies. Communicate clearly and be able to tailor your communications to the target audience - user, customer, marketer, manager, etc."–
– James P. Bliss, Ph.D.
Networking Opportunities and Organizations for Engineering Psychology
Attending a conferenceis one of the best ways that an engineering psychologist can interact with professionals in their field, as well as to learn and discuss guidelines, practical and actionable methods, and best practices related to engineering psychology.
According to a handful of engineering psychologists, the primary conference to attend concerning the field is the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society International Conference, which is held every fall. In addition to accommodating seasoned professionals, the conference also offers networking opportunities that target students and recent graduates.
Social media and online interactionis also becoming an increasingly popular method of communication and networking for engineering psychology professionals. According to Bliss, “LinkedIn is quickly becoming a great resource for making connections.”
Organizationsthat provide additional networking opportunities for engineering psychologists include:
“There are also more specialized conferences such as HFES-Health, Human-Computer Interaction (CHI), Transportation Research, Human-Robot Interaction, and many more.”
–Wendy A. Rogers, Ph.D.
“For international connections, the International Ergonomics Association hosts a triennial conference…”
Continuing Education (CE) Sources
In addition to offering state-approved CE programs for psychologists, the APA provides continuing education programs that cater to the needs of engineering psychologists. Some of the ways that professionals can develop their career include earning CE credits in topics such asAn Introduction to Statistical Moderation;Confidence Intervals and The New Statistics; andThe New Statistics Part 1: Rationale, Effect Sizes, and Confidence Intervals.
Readengineering psychology expert Dr. Neville Stanton’s career interview for further insights.
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