Judith Schmidt

Research interests

In my research, I examine the cognitive requirements that humans face as part of their work as well as the corresponding knowledge and strategies. To better understand this interplay, I compare and contrast similar tasks in different work domains. For example, how do the strategies during fault diagnosis depend on whether the system to be diagnosed is a car or a packaging machine? To answer these questions, I use and combine different knowledge elicitation techniques, such as concept mapping, card sorting, or interviews.

Projects

Current projects

• MoCa-Dia: Modelling and visualising causal relations in process chains: How do multi-linear, systemic, and combined methods affect human fault diagnosis? (DFG, 2024-2027)
• INAK: Interactive, user-centered assistance system for cranial bone surgery (SAB, 2024-2026)

Completed projects

• XRAISE: Explainable AI for Railway Safety Evaluations (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, 2024-2026)
• Portfolio experts: Portfolio exams as an initial impetus for a modified culture of teaching and learning (Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre, 2022-2024)
• HyTec: Hypotheses during diagnostic problem solving in technical domains: Mental basis, process, and outcome (DFG, 2021-2024)

Publications

Journal articles

Müller, R. & Schmidt, J. (2025). Beyond object identification: How train drivers evaluate the risk of collision. Cognition, Technology & Work, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-025-00832-7

Schmidt, J., Wollermann, L., Abele, S., & Müller, R. (2024). Concept maps to assess system understanding: Are graphical explanations more accurate than verbal ones? Behavioral Sciences, 14(9), 807. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090807 

Schmidt, J., & Müller, R. (2023). Diagnosing faults in different technical systems: How requirements for diagnosticians can be revealed by comparing domain characteristics. Machines, 11(12), 1045. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines11121045

Albrecht, C., Schmidt, J., & Jantos, A. (2023). Die Prüfungstheke als Prüfungsstrategie der Zukunft. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung, 18(3), 213-239. https://doi.org/10.21240/zfhe/18-03/11

Schmidt, J., & Müller, R. (2023). Discipline differences in mental models: How mechanical engineers and automation engineers evaluate machine processes. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 33(6), 521–536. https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.21005

Conference presentations

Schmidt, J., Wiesend, F., & Müller, R.  (2025). How does the context of fault-relevant information influence fault diagnosis? Poster presented at the KogWis 2025, Bochum, September 01-03.

Schmidt, J., Klausing, W., Zipper, V., & Müller, R.  (2025). Complex causal diagrams of faults: Strategies and challenges in reading, understanding, and applying cause-effect relations. Poster presented at the 67. Tagung experimentell arbeitender Psychologen, Frankfurt am Main, March 09-12.

Schmidt, J., & Pannasch, S. (2024). Selbstgesteuertes Lernen und Prüfen in der Vorlesung Ingenieurpsychologie. Talk at the Lessons Learned VI focus conference, Dresden, Germany, August 7.

Schmidt, J., Rix, E., Hesse, P., Abele, S., & Müller, R. (2024). Validity of concept mapping for assessing mental models of system functioning. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 46. Link to conference paper

Krüger, M.-S., Zipper, V., & Schmidt, J. (2023). Self-regulated learning - Self-empowerment for studying successfully. Poster presented at the TU Dresden Teaching Day, Dresden, Germany, November 17.

Schmidt, J., & Müller, R. (2023). Diagnosing faults in different technical systems: How domain characteristics can be used to predict requirements for diagnosticians. Talk at the 13. Fachgruppentagung der AOW- und Ingenieurpsychologie. Kassel, Germany, September 12-15.

Schmidt, J., Kaseler, E. L., Wollermann, L., Müller, R. (2023). Can people better express their understanding of system functioning graphically or verbally? Poster presented at the 65 TeaP 2023, Trier, Germany, March 26-29. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.12945

Kaseler, E. L., Müller, R., Schmidt, J., Hesse, P., & Abele, S. (2022). Functional understanding of car mechatronic trainees and its relation to fault diagnosis performance. Paper presented at the 11th EARLI SIG14 Conference 2022, Paderborn, Germany, August 17-19.

Teaching

Lectures

Work and Organizational Psychology (teaching assignment at HTW Dresden), summer semester 2023, winter semester 2023/2024)

Seminars

Seminar "Self-regulated learning - Self-empowerment for studying successfully" , winter semester 2023/2024