BCPE CPE flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Fitts's law

Predicts pointing movement time as MT = a + b·log2(2D/W), where D is target distance and W target width. Larger or nearer targets yield faster, more accurate aiming.

Hick-Hyman law

Choice reaction time increases linearly with stimulus uncertainty measured in bits, log2(n+1). Doubling the number of equally likely alternatives adds a roughly constant time increment.

NIOSH lifting equation

Computes a Recommended Weight Limit by multiplying load constant and six multipliers (horizontal, vertical, distance, asymmetry, frequency, coupling). The Lifting Index is load divided by RWL.

Stevens' power law

Perceived magnitude grows as a power function of stimulus intensity, S = k·I^n. Exponents below one indicate compression; above one indicate expansion of perceived intensity.

Weber fraction

The just-noticeable difference in a stimulus is a constant proportion of its reference value, ΔI/I = k. Smaller fractions indicate finer sensory discrimination.

Anthropometric percentile design

Design rule selecting 95th-percentile dimensions for clearance, 5th-percentile for reach, and adjustable ranges spanning the 5th to 95th percentiles for seated and standing workstations.

Signal detection d-prime

Sensitivity index d' = z(hit rate) − z(false-alarm rate). It quantifies how separable signal and noise distributions are, independent of the observer's response criterion.

Signal detection criterion

Response bias measure c = −0.5[z(hit rate) + z(false-alarm rate)]. Positive values indicate conservative responding; negative values indicate liberal responding, separate from sensitivity.

NASA-TLX

A subjective mental workload instrument using six subscales: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration. Subscale weights are derived from pairwise comparisons.

Cognitive load types

Intrinsic load reflects task complexity, extraneous load arises from poor instructional design, and germane load supports schema construction. Design aims to reduce extraneous load.

Compatibility principle

Performance improves when stimulus, response, and display relationships match human expectations and spatial patterns. High compatibility reduces reaction time and errors.

Vigilance decrement

Sustained attention to rare signals over long periods produces declining detection rates and rising response times. Signal rate, event rate, and automation reliability moderate the decrement.

Multiple resource theory

Wickens' model partitions attention by processing stage, modality, code, and response channel. Tasks sharing resources interfere more than tasks drawing on separate resource pools.

S-R compatibility

The degree to which a stimulus maps naturally to its required response. Spatially congruent display-control arrangements reduce reaction time and errors compared with arbitrary mappings.

Memory store durations

Sensory memory persists under a second, short-term memory holds roughly seven chunks for seconds without rehearsal, and long-term memory has effectively unlimited capacity and duration.

Human error taxonomy

Reason's framework separates slips and lapses (execution failures) from mistakes (planning failures). Slips are skill-based; mistakes involve rule-based or knowledge-based processing.

Heat stress indices

WBGT combines dry-bulb, natural wet-bulb, and globe temperatures with workload and acclimatization to set exposure limits. It weights humidity and radiant heat differently for indoor and outdoor settings.

Manual materials handling limits

Acceptable loads depend on lifting frequency, horizontal and vertical location, asymmetry, and coupling quality. Psychophysical, biomechanical, and physiological criteria set the acceptable envelope.

Usability heuristics

Nielsen's inspection method evaluates interfaces against principles such as visibility of system status, user control, consistency, error prevention, recognition over recall, and minimalist design.

Participatory ergonomics

End users help identify hazards and design workplace changes. Participation improves the fit of interventions to real tasks and increases acceptance and sustained use.

BCPE eligibility structure

Certification requires documented education plus professional ergonomics experience, evaluated against published credit rules. Exact thresholds are set by the certifying board and should be confirmed officially.

Degree relevance review

Transcripts are assessed for coursework in ergonomics, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, or safety. Relevant coursework determines how much education credit an applicant receives.

Experience documentation

Applicants record employment dates, employer, title, and descriptions showing applied human factors methods. Vague or unrelated duties may not be credited toward experience requirements.

Professional-level experience

Only work performed at a professional level and substantially ergonomics-related typically counts. Clerical, purely administrative, or unrelated duties are generally excluded from credit.

Reference verification

Supervisors or colleagues confirm claimed experience through references or attestations. Unverifiable claims may be disallowed, so accurate contact and role details are essential.

Recertification continuing education

Maintaining certification requires earning continuing education units through approved ergonomics, safety, or human-factors coursework, conferences, and professional activities within each cycle.

Ethics requirement

Certificants must follow professional-conduct standards covering competence, confidentiality, and honest reporting. Violations can trigger sanctions or revocation independent of examination performance.

Exam eligibility screening

Applications are checked against published education and experience rules before testing. Candidates short of thresholds may qualify through additional coursework or supervised ergonomics experience.

Supervised experience credit

Some pathways credit ergonomics work performed under qualified supervision. Documentation should identify the supervisor's credentials and the specific methods the candidate applied.

Transcript submission

Official transcripts or credential evaluations are submitted directly by institutions. Course titles and credit hours support the education assessment used in eligibility decisions.

Continuing education audit

Certifying bodies may audit a sample of continuing education claims, requiring certificates or attendance records. Retaining documentation for each cycle supports verification.

Professional development plan

A structured record of coursework, conferences, and applied projects that maintains competence and supports recertification. It should map activities to ergonomics knowledge domains.