[4/14/2003 10:44:08 AM | Cristina Rodrigues]

What is task analysis?

Task analysis is an observation-based technique that elicits knowledge from the users for whom a product is intended. First, the researchers have to familiarize themselves with the product domain so that they can converse knowledgeably with these users. After this initial period of discovery, they interview actual and/or target users of the product for 2 - 3 hours apiece. All users are asked some scripted questions, but the interviews have a relatively unstructured format. The lack of a sequential format helps ensure that the users' normal task flow is reflected rather than the researchers' preconceptions. Some of the crucial information that task analysis aims to uncover (at a minimum):

who the different groups of users are and how they differ
which tasks are performed by each specific group of users
which tasks they must perform
which tasks they perform frequently
how they currently perform each important or frequent task
what sequence they perform these tasks in
which measures of user performance (accuracy, speed, etc.) are relevant

Researchers familiarize themselves with the product domain so that they can converse knowledgeably with these users. Then they interview actual and/or product target users who are asked scripted questions -- the interviews have a relatively unstructured format. The lack of a sequential format helps ensure that the users' normal task flow is reflected rather than the researchers' preconceptions.