A tabular task analysis (TTA) is conducted to evaluate a task or scenario with regard to the necessary task steps and the interface used. The analysis evaluates specific elements of the bottom-level task steps within a hierarchical task analysis (HTA), looking for information such as displays and controls used, possible errors, or feedback.
A task decomposition describes a particular task and then decomposes it to describe the task's features, such as devices and interface components used, duration, errors, and feedback. These categories will be selected by the analyst based on the needs of the analysis.
Value-added analysis is a method for identifying problems within a process. The analysis allows a team to examine individual process steps so it can separate the steps that add value for the user from the steps that do not.
A verbal protocol analysis (VPA) is a think-aloud method of eliciting cognitive and physical process descriptions from a user. The descriptions are of processes that are performed by the user to complete a specific task.
The workload profile technique is a subjective, multidimensional mental workload (MWL) assessment tool. It is used to determine demand ratings imposed by a task across the eight following dimensions:
1. Perceptual or central processing
2. Response selection and execution
3. Spatial processing
4. Verbal processing
5. Visual processing
6. Auditory processing
7. Manual output
8. Speech output.
A cognitive task analysis (CTA) provides a means of capturing the way the mind works. This includes decisionmaking, reasoning, and how information is processed.
Goals, operators, methods, and selection rules is a method derived from human-computer interaction (HCI) and constructs a description of human performance. The level of granularity will vary based on the needs of the analysis.
The goal is what the user wants to accomplish.
The operator is what the user does to accomplish the goal.
The method is a series of operators that are used to accomplish the goal.
Selection rules are used if there are multiple methods, to determine how one was selected over the others.
Groupware task analysis (GTA) is used to study teams in order to analyze their tasks and activities. The information collected is then used when designing or analyzing comparable team systems. The method focuses on two task models.
Task model 1: Describes the situation as it currently exists.
A hierarchical task analysis (HTA) describes an activity in terms of its specific goals, subgoals, operations, and plans. Once the analysis is complete, the task activity is described in detail.
A process scorecard evaluates a process according to a set of predefined criteria. Based on the user's feedback, the scorecard gives a rating for the process and often times short recommendations according to the rating the process receives.
