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






2. An original model on which something is patterned






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






4. 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






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






6. A tendency to prefer faces in which the eyes - nose - lips and other features are close to the average of a population.






7. 80% of the effects generated by any large system are caused by 20% of the variables.






8. The ratio of relevant to irrelevant information in a display. The highest possible signal- to- noise ratio is desirable in design.






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






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






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






12. The act of measuring certain sensitive variable in a system can alter them - and confound the accuracy of the measurement.






13. The quality of system output is dependent on the quality of system input.






14. A term used to describe a set of data - that when plotted - forms a symmetrical - bell- shaped curve.






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






16. A technique used to teach a desired behavior by reinforcing increasingly accurate approximations of the behavior.






17. An attribute of an object that allows people to intuitively know how to use it






18. Pictures are remembered better than words.






19. Hierarchical organization is the simplest structure for visualizing and understanding complexity.






20. The time it takes to make a decision increases as the number of alternatives increases.


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






22. People tend to prefer savanna- like environments to other types of environments. Open areas - scattered trees - water - and uniform grassiness rather than other natural environments such as desert - jungle - and complex mtns.






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






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






25. A relationship between variables in a system where the consequences of an event are fed back in order to modify the event in the future.






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






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






28. 1) Functionality 2) Reliability 3) Usability 4) Proficiency 5) Creativity. In order for design to be successful - it must meet ppl's basic need before it can attempt to satisfy higher- level needs.






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






30. A phenomenon of memory in which noticeably different things are more likely to be recalled that common things. (AKA Isolation/Novelty Effect)






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






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






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






34. A Gestalt law of organization; elements arrange in a straight line or a smooth curve are perceived as a group - and are interpreted as being more related than elements not on the line or curve.






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






36. A technique that influences decision making and judgement by manipulating the way information is presented.






37. A method of reorganizing information to make the information simpler - more meaningful and easier to remember. (ie. First Letter - Keyword - Rhyme - Feature Name)






38. An action or ommission of action yielding an unintended result.






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






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






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






42. A tendency to interpret shaded or dark areas of an object as shadows resulting from a light source above the object.






43. A phenomenon of memory in which information that is analyzed deeply is better recalled than information that is analyzed superficially.






44. Beauty in design results from purity of function. Interpreted in 2 ways: A description of beauty or a prescription for beauty.






45. A phenomenon of visual processing in which certain line orientations are more quickly and easily processed and discriminated than other line orientations.






46. A process of repeating a set of operation until a specific result is achieved.






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






48. The ratio of face to body in an image that influences the way the person in the image is perceived. (High = intelligent / Low = physical)






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






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