More about Task Analysis
Task analysis can be used in a number of situations such as when we are designing a website, when we want to test a prototype and task analysis can also be part of user testing/validation. It is important that task analysis is performed during or before the design phase so that the insights obtained can be easily incorporated into the product, service or system being designed.
Task Analysis can be performed one on one or online depending on the project under consideration. In order to analyze the way a user performs tasks, complicated and time consuming tasks can be broken down into subtasks, which can be analyzed as well as observed individually.
Types of Task Analysis
Task Analysis is of two types depending on the end-goal and composition. If the task analysis involves analyzing qualitative end-goals such as decision-making, emotions, problem-solving skills, recall, then it is termed as Cognitive Task Analysis. Whereas, if the Task Analysis involves breaking down a complex task into subtasks, analyzing the subparts and deducing the nature of the whole based on its composite parts, then such analysis is termed as Hierarchical Task Analysis.
Method
Purpose
Advantages
Disadvantages
Cognitive
To analyze qualitative end-goals such as decision-making, emotions, problem-solving skills, recall, etc.
- Allows understanding user motivations.
- Helps determine end-goals for participants from a task.
Qualitative nature of this type of task analysis may not give accurate findings or rather clear findings. The results may be vague.
Hierarchical
To Understand the performing of subtasks and analyze the complex tasks based on the participants performing the subtasks.
If undertaken at an earlier stage, the results can help identifying crisp improvement areas in terms of user experience
Depending on the degree of decomposition, the data obtained will be detailed or basic. There could be different researchers involved in decomposing the task, the one observing the participants performing the tasks and the one analyzing findings.
Advantages of Task analysis
1. Great understanding of users and their end-goals
Task analysis allows the researcher to not only understand the participants end goals but also their competence in performing the task, the triggers that lead to the task, the triggers that disrupt the user’s flow during the task as well as the tools the user employs to perform the task.
2. High level understanding of user environments
Task Analysis also gives an indication of the user’s environment and whether or not the environment is conducive to perform the task.
3. Relevant at every stage of the project
Task Analysis can be conducted at any stage of the product or service development but the earlier it is conducted, the better.
4. Practical
Task analysis helps to highlight the practical aspects that come into play when a user is performing a task.
5. Determine gaps between set processes and actual steps in performing a task
This method also helps figure whether there is a difference between the way the user actually performs the task and the way the user says they perform the task.
Disadvantages of Task analysis
1. Time consuming
If the task analysis were performed with a large sample of participants, the activity would be time consuming. Online tools may help is recording data but actual observation will happen when the researcher is present at the time the task is being performed.
2. Complex findings
Depending on whether the task analysis method is cognitive or hierarchical, the findings may be complex and not that easily analyzable.
3. Discrepancy in the pace of performing the task
If the users do not give sufficient time for performing a task during the exercise, then the system or product can be off from what the user requirement is. This may be due to the users rushing through a task during the exercise which they otherwise perform at a relaxed pace. This would be true even when the user performs a task hastily otherwise but during the exercise, performs it in a relaxed manner.
4. Diverse Viewpoints
If the scope of the project is large, then user testing may result in large amount of diverse data may be difficult to collate and analyze.