Test your basic knowledge |

Design Principles

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. An action or ommission of action yielding an unintended result.






2. A tendency to interpret ambiguous images as simple and a complete unit - versus complex and incomplete. (Gestalt principle of perception).






3. The tendency for people to behave differently when they know they are being studied






4. Designs should help people avoid errors and minimize the negative consequences of errors when they do occur.






5. The usability of a system is improved when its status and methods of use are clearly visible.






6. Repeated exposure to stimuli for which people have neutral feelings will increase the likeability of the stimuli.






7. A point of physical or attentional entry into a design. (Minimal Barriers - Points of Prospect - Progressive Lures)






8. The usability of a system is improved when similar parts are expressed in similar ways.






9. The visual clarity of text - generally based on the size - typeface - contrast - text block - and spacing of the characters used.






10. A method of limiting the actions that can be performed on a system.






11. 80% of the effects generated by any large system are caused by 20% of the variables.






12. A method of presentation in which information is presented in descending order of importance. (Critical information presented first).






13. When participants realise the aim of the study and may change their behaviour to help or disrupt the study.






14. Pictures are remembered better than words.






15. Elements that are connected by uniform visual properties - such as color - are perceived to be more related than elements that are not connected.






16. A method of illustrating relationships and patterns in system behaviors by representing two or more system variables in a controlled way.






17. As the flexiblity of a system increases - its usability decreases.






18. A process in which similar characteristics evolve independently in multiple systems.






19. All products progress sequentially through four stages of existence: introduction - growth - maturity - and decline.






20. A property of visual equivalence among elements in a form.






21. Teh act of copying properties of familiar objects - organisms - or environments in order to realize specifice benefits afforded by those properties.






22. Elements that are similar are perceived to be more related than elements that are dissimilar.






23. A strategy for managing information complexity in which only necessary or requested information is displayed at any given time.






24. A diagram that describes the general pattern followed by the eyes when looking at evenly distributed - homogeneous information.






25. A method of managing system complexity that involves dividing large systems into multiple - smaller self- contained systems.






26. Elements perceived as either figures (objects of focus) or ground (the rest of the perceptual field)






27. A ratio within the elements of a form - such as height to width - approximating 0.618.






28. A technique for bringing attention to an area of text or image.






29. A method of creating imagery - emotions - and understanding of events through an interaction between a storyteller and an audience.






30. Adjusting parts of a device in relation to each other to create a sense of unity and cohesion.






31. A Gestalt principle of organization holding that aspects of perceptual field that move or function in a similar manner will be perceived as a unit






32. A space that has territorial markers - opportunities for surveillance - and clear indications of activity and ownership.






33. 1) Physiological 2) Safety 3) Love 4) Self-Esteem 5) Self-Actualization


34. It is often preferable to settle for a satisfactory solution - rather than pursue an optimal solution.






35. The relative ease with which a destination - idea - or concept may be reached.






36. A preference for a particular ratio of waist size to hip size in men and women. Men prefer 0.7 in women. Women prefer 0.9 in men.






37. The use of more elements than necessary to maintain the performance of a system in the event of failure of one or more of the elements.






38. The process of organizing information into related groupings in order to manage complexity and reinforce relationships in the information.






39. A technique used to modify behavior by reinforcing desired behaviors - and ignoring or punishing undesired behaviors.






40. Elements that are close together are percieved to be more related than elements that are farther apart.






41. Patients experience treatment effects based on their belief that a treatment will work.






42. The level of control provided by a system should be related to the proficiency and experience levels of the people using the system.






43. The tendency for people to perform better or worse based on the expectations of another.






44. A tendency to see objects and patterns as 3D when certain visual cues are present.






45. The designs that help people perform optimally are often not the same as the designs that people find most desirable.






46. The use of pictorial images to improve the recognition and recall of signs and controls.






47. The distressing state of thought caused by recognizing an inconsistency between behavior/thought and value/belief.






48. The deliberate use of a weak element that will fail in order to protect other elements in the system from damage.






49. People understand and interact with systems and environments based on mental representations developed from experience.






50. Using more elements than is necessary to offset the effects of unknown variables which may cause a system failure.