- Contextual Inquiry 
- User Interviews
- Data collection
- Activity Sampling
- Simulations

Common methods used to learn about user goals and tasks in Task Analysis

Stage 1: Collect information about user goals/tasks by analyzing and interacting with them.

Stage 2: Observe the tasks completed to understand the total tasks and subtasks, frequency, hierarchy, and complexity. The task analyzer then creates diagrams and other material to conclude their findings.

Ohio State University, Columbus

Rutgers University

Task Analysis is the method of learning about how users go about finishing tasks. This study was introduced by instructional design (design training), ergonomics (analyzing how users use models to better suit user experience), and human factors. TA is critical to improving user experience and goals.

Task Analysis

Rosala, M. (2020, September 20). Task analysis: Support users in achieving their goals. Nielsen Norman Group. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/task-analysis/ 

Task Analysis: Support Users in Achieving Their Goals

An HTA diagram starts with a goal and scenario (in the same way that a customer-journey map does) and highlights the major tasks to be completed in order to achieve it. In human factors, these tasks are referred to as ‘operations’. Each of the tasks in the top layer can be broken down into subtasks. The number of levels of subtasks depends on the complexity of the process and how granular the analyst wants the analysis to be.

Hierarchical task-analysis diagram (HTA)

Task Analysis is determined by how a user goes about achieving their objective or finishing tasks. Workflow Analysis in contrast is when users are brought in as learning material, as in, comprehending how they complete tasks and what the tasks are. Additionally, Job Analysis is where one user is monitored for a duration to judge the needs for the user’s role.	

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