ABSTRACT
The purpose of algorithmic analysis of activity is the subdivision of activity into qualitatively distinct psychological units and the determination of their logical organization. Algorithmic description of task performance gives an opportunity to describe very exible human behavior. It is an important stage of morphological analysis of work activity. Logically, organized elements of activity are called members of algorithm. Usually, members of algorithm include one to four interdependent homogeneous actions (only motor, only perceptual, or only decision-making actions), which are integrated by a higher-order goal into a holistic system. Subjectively, a member of such algorithm is perceived by a subject as a component of his or her activity (mode), which has a logical completeness. Usually, the amount of actions in one member of an algorithm is restricted by the capacity of shortterm memory. According to systemic-structural activity theory (SSAT) rules, motor actions can be performed simultaneously and cognitive actions should be performed sequentially. Cognitive actions can be combined with motor actions. This depends on the level of attention concentration during the performance of different actions and their elements (Bedny and Karwowski, 2007). Members of algorithms include operators and logical conditions. Operators represent actions that transform objects, energy, and information. For example, we can describe operators that are implicated in receiving information, analysis of a situation and its comprehension, shifting of gears, levers, etc. Logical conditions are members of algorithm that include a decision-making process and determine the logic of selecting the next operator. Actions as units of analysis constitute one of the most important distinctive features of a human algorithm, from different kinds of ow charts widely used to represent human performance.
