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11 - Task Analysis

from PART III - METHODS FOR STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF EXPERTISE

By
Jan Maarten Schraagen
Edited by
K. Anders Ericsson ,
Neil Charness ,
Paul J. Feltovich  and
Robert R. Hoffman
Jan Maarten Schraagen
Affiliation:
TNO Defence, Security, and Safety
K. Anders Ericsson
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Neil Charness
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Paul J. Feltovich
Affiliation:
University of West Florida
Robert R. Hoffman
Affiliation:
University of West Florida
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Summary

Introduction

Analyses of tasks may be undertaken for a wide variety of purposes, including the design of computer systems to support human work, the development of training, the allocation of tasks to humans or machines, or the development of tests to certify job competence. Task analysis is, therefore, primarily an applied activity within such diverse fields as human factors, human–computer interaction, instructional design, team design, and cognitive systems engineering. Among its many applications is the study of the work of expert domain practitioners.

“Task analysis” may be defined as what a person is required to do, in terms of actions and/or cognitive processes, to achieve a system goal (cf. Kirwan & Ainsworth, 1992, p. 1). A more recent definition, which at first sight has the merit of being short and crisp, is offered by Diaper (2004, p. 15): “Task analysis is the study of how work is achieved by tasks.” Both definitions are deceptively simple. They do, however, raise further issues, such as what a “system” is, or a “goal,” or “work,” or “task.” Complicating matters further, notions and assumptions have changed over time and have varied across nations. It is not my intention in this chapter to provide a complete historical overview of the various definitions that have been given for task analysis. The reader is referred to Diaper and Stanton (2004), Hollnagel (2003), Kirwan and Ainsworth (1992), Militello and Hoffman (2006), Nemeth (2004), Schraagen, Chipman, and Shalin (2000), and Shepherd (2001).

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance , pp. 185 - 202
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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