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Overview
Overview
In human factors, we are interested in how users perform tasks to achieve their goals. Here, we are referring to a task as an activity, typically an observable one, that has a start and end point.
We use task analysis to observe users and document their actions in detail. Knowing how a user completes a task can help inform the design of products and services. Steps taken in a task can vary between users, especially as we account for a users prior knowledge/experience.
Task analysis can be used at various points in the design cycle, but can be especially useful in the early stages of design.
Hierarchical Task Analysis
Hierarchical Task Analysis
A hierarchical task analysis (HTA) is an analytical method that elaborates on the descriptive information gathered about a task. An HTA breaks down the goals of a task into subgoals and task components. Addiotionally, and HTA can provide information around problems and errors/mistakes that can potetially occur at a given step of a task.
One of our favorite Human Factors psychologists, Douglas Gillan, wrote a book chapter all about task analysis! In his chapter he includes an example of a hierarchical task analysis:
References
References
Gillan, D. (2013). Five questions concerning task analysis. In The Handbook of Work Analysis (pp. 234-246). Routledge.
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