Table 7.

Skill components and guidelines for evaluating task analysis

Objective	Skill components	Guideline
Determine task goal	Determine purpose of the task analysis Set scope of analysis State assumptions Differentiate purpose and goal Delineate task to be analyzed (main goal) from the task of conducting a task analysis Identify goal Define goal of the task Question the given goal Determine super-ordinate goal Delineate task goal from other (similar) task goals Ask question	Spend time discussing activities at the onset of the task analysis: main goal (task) and the purpose of the task analysis
Determine plan	Separate sequence from content Determine sequence Choose format Follow format Adjust format	Prepare for a variety of task analysis formats
Create hierarchy	Expand breadth Reduce breadth Expand depth Reduce depth Adjust subgoal placement Decide whether to include or exclude a subgoal Determine location of subgoal Set task structure dimensions Evaluate subgoal placement Move element within same level Place subgoal in hierarchy Move element to another level	Emphasize that developing a hierarchy is an active process that involves creating and expanding a task space, and negotiating the placement of a subgoal
Determine task boundaries	State assumptions Define breadth of task analysis Determine breadth of task analysis Determine if breadth is appropriate Recall minimum breadth Recall maximum breadth Define depth of task analysis Determine depth of task analysis	Be prepared to provide definitions, as depth and breadth of task analyses may be influenced by definitions or a process
State subgoals	Ask questions Consider prior knowledge Consider task factors Consider time constraints Check symmetrical subgoals Check task aspects Refer to task constraints Search task space Specify requirements State assumptions Understand task space Determine procedure Identify objects Select level of analysis Define subgoal Identify subgoal Delineate subgoal from other subgoals Determine exact wording Notice if subgoal is outside boundaries	Employ a variety of methods to redescribe subgoals, and beware that factors other than the task to be analyzed may be important
Create versatility	Consider different ways to complete a task Consider task variations Constrain task space Create scenario Determine task variables Refer to task analysis purpose Refer to task performance Select task variables	Purposefully consider task variations to make a task analysis more general, and state your assumptions when you choose specific instances
Determine criteria	Identify criteria State criteria	Emphasize satisfaction criteria so they are not overlooked