A variety of task-analytical tools are available to the human factors/ergonomics practitioner, who is challenged to find the right tool for the task at hand and to apply it appropriately. In this article, we compare a number of task analysis methods, including each method’s unique contribution and the expertise required to apply it. We describe how different task analysis methods can build on each other and provide examples to illustrate.
AnnettJ. (2004). Hierarchical task analysis. In DiaperD.StantonN. A. (Eds.), The handbook of task analysis for human-computer interaction (pp. 67–82). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
2.
AnnettJ.DuncanK. D. (1967). Task analysis and training design. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 41, 211–221.
3.
BurtonA. W.DavisW. E. (1996). Ecological task analysis: Utilizing intrinsic measures in research and practice. Human Movement Science, 15, 285–314.
4.
DavisW. E.BurtonA. W. (1991). Ecological task analysis: Translating movement behavior theory into practice. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 8, 154–177.
5.
FiskA. D.RogersW. A.CharnessN.CzajaS. J.SharitJ. (2009). Designing for older adults: Principles and creative human factors approaches (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
6.
GibsonJ. J. (1979). An ecological approach to visual perception. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
7.
GilbrethF. B. (1911). Motion study. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand.
8.
JonassenD. H.HannumW. H.TessmerM. (1989). Handbook of task analysis procedures. New York: Praeger.
9.
KierasD. E. (1988). Towards a practical GOMS model methodology for user interface design. In HelanderM. (Ed.), Handbook of human-computer interaction (pp. 135–157). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier/North Holland.
10.
KirlikA. (1995). Requirements for psychological models to support design: Toward ecological task analysis. In FlachJ. M.HancockP. A.CairdJ.VicenteK. J. (Eds.), Global perspectives on the ecology of human-machine systems (Vol. 1, pp. 68–120). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
11.
KirwanB.AinsworthL. K. (1992). A guide to task analysis. London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
12.
MarrD. (1982). Chapter 1: The philosophy and the approach. In Vision: A computational investigation into the human representation and processing visual information (pp. 8–38). New York: Freeman.
13.
MilitelloL. G.HuttonR. J. B. (1998). Applied cognitive task analysis (ACTA): A practitioner’s toolkit for understanding cognitive task demands. Ergonomics, 41, 1618–1641.
14.
RedishJ. C.WixonD. (2003). Task analysis. In JackoJ.SearsA. (Eds.), The human-computer interaction handbook (pp. 922–940). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
15.
SchraagenJ. M. (2006). Task analysis. In EricssonK. A.CharnessN.FeltovichP. J.HoffmanR. R. (Eds.) The Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance (pp. 185–201). New York: Cambridge University Press.
16.
SeamsterT. L.ReddingR. E.KaempfG. L. (1997). Applied cognitive task analysis in aviation. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate.
17.
ShepherdA. (2001). Hierarchical task analysis. London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
18.
TaylorF. W. (1911). Principles of scientific management. New York: Harper & Row.
