CAT: A tool for eliciting knowledge on how to perform procedures

Procedural tasks involve context-sensitive sequences of actions that are pe rformed in pursuit of goals. Procedural knowledge specifies how to do somet hing (e.g., repairing a car) but not how the physical system works (e.g., h ow the engine works). We have developed a computer program that elicits pro cedural knowledge from individuals with varying amounts of domain knowledge (ranging from novices to experts) and varying amounts of computer literacy . The tool is called CAT (cognitive analysis tool). CAT is an extension of a class of cognitive models known as GOMS, which stands for goals, operator s, methods, and selection rules. The tool guides the user in articulating t he goals (and subgoals) the user wants to accomplish, the operators (action s, steps) to accomplish each goal, the alternative methods of accomplishing goals, the conditions in which each method is applied, and exceptional cir cumstances when goals are suspended and restarted. CAT can be used on most IBM-compatible microcomputers.