ABSTRACT
This chapter presents some cognitive task analysis methods for process design and modification to aid in improving work efficiency. It focuses on the cognitive demands of an operator's performance. Cognitive ergonomics involves the relationship between tools and their users, putting emphasis on the cognitive processes for understanding, reasoning, and usage of knowledge. The chapter explores two cognitive task analysis (CTA) methods for the evaluation of cognitive elements in work design: cognitive work analysis (CWA) and applied cognitive task analysis (ACTA). The concept of CTA uses a set of techniques designed to extract information relative to the knowledge, thought processes, and goal structures that underlie observable performance to describe and represent the cognitive elements. CWA is a structured approach that systematically shifts from analyzing mental demands to determining visualizations and the decision-aiding concepts that can assist the understanding of cognitive work. ACTA is a flexible, easy-to-use method that doesn't require the analyst to be an expert in the knowledge domain.
