Task Analysis by Problem Solving (TAPS): Uncovering Expert Knowledge to Develop High-Quality Instructional Materials and Training

Task analysis is a method of identifying knowledge and procedures for performing a task or solving a problem. There are a variety of cognitive task analysis methods, but they often require significant overhead to learn and rely on having a subject matter expert (SME) defining how one should solve problems. This can be problematic because expertise often blinds people to the knowledge that novices in a domain need in order to solve problems or carry out tasks. I present a task analysis approach, Task Analysis by Problem Solving (TAPS), which focuses on uncovering procedural and domain knowledge that a learner needs to acquire. In TAPS the SME performs tasks or solves problems while justifying each step to the knowledge extraction expert (KEE) who is a domain novice. The KEE develops notes based on the solution procedures and justifications provided by the SME. Eventually the KEE uses the notes to solve problems provided by the domain expert; the notes get revised throughout all phases. The KEE reaches the point where, using the notes, he can solve all problems given by the SME. The notes can then guide the development of training and assessment materials. Due to the preceding process the materials are much more likely to cover the necessary details compared to materials that are developed through an SME's intuitions about what should be included.