COGNITIVE TASK ANALYSES FOR DECISION CENTERED DESIGN AND TRAINING

This paper presents three case studies of Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA ) for defining systems design and training requirements. The approach taken involves a modification of the critical decision method of Klein ct ill. The authors utilized the revised CDM to obtain information fr om expert white-water rafting guides, general aviation pilots, and eme rgency ambulance dispatchers. The information obtained was used to dev elop multi-media tools for training rafting guides and general aviatio n pilots, and to redesign the VDU display requirements for the ambulan ce dispatchers. The examples demonstrate the utility of an approach to CTA that is closely based on relevant theory, and provides guidance t o practitioners wishing to apply CTA techniques.