معرفی
Michael Granaas serves as Associate Professor and Faculty Director of Human Factors in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Dakota. With extensive experience in statistical consultation for student theses and dissertations, he has significantly contributed to academic research while playing a key role in the Old Main renovations project.
His educational credentials include:
- Ph D in Psychology, University of Kansas (1986)
- MA in Psychology, University of Kansas (1984)
- BA in Psychology/Computer Science, Gustavus Adolphus College (1981)
Dr. Granaas specializes in human factors within virtual environments, investigating optimal human interface design and identifying scenarios where virtual environments enhance or hinder human performance. His research bridges psychology, computer science, and statistics, with particular focus on virtual reality applications, gaming psychology, and statistical methodology. Early adoption of General Linear Modeling and randomization methods in statistics education demonstrates his innovative teaching approach across all levels of research methods instruction.
His publication portfolio reveals consistent contributions to human-computer interaction, statistical education, and virtual environment research, with significant emphasis on practical applications in aerospace, military, and educational contexts. Key themes include interface optimization, cognitive processing in digital environments, and pedagogical advancements in quantitative methodology.
Notable recognitions include:
- Blair and Linda Tremere Faculty Service Award (2012)
- NASA-ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowships (1987-1988)
- Multiple Friends of Education Awards (1988, 1991)
- NIMH Traineeships (1982-1983)
As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Granaas has provided statistical consultation for dozens of student research projects, though he is currently not accepting new graduate students. His grant portfolio demonstrates substantial research impact, including the 2022-2023 Unity Technologies Create with VR Grant Program, multiple NASA grants for human-computer interface research in mission control centers (1988-1993), and an NSF grant for renovating the South Dakota Union Building as a human factors research facility (1994).
His work has established critical infrastructure for human factors research at USD, particularly through the NSF-funded South Dakota Union Building renovation project, which created dedicated spaces for virtual environment experimentation and human interface testing.
