Using Eye-tracking Video Data to Augment Knowledge Elicitation in Cognitive Task Analysis

Cognitive task analysis (CTA) is a process to determine cognitive activities required to accomplish a given task. Different methods have been proposed and advocated in performing CTA. In this paper, we report a pilot trial using eye-tracking data to facilitate CTA. A mobile eye-tracking device was used in surgical operating rooms to acquire eye-tracking data from an operator during a highly complex, taxing procedure: tracheal intubation. A desktop task analysis was performed to establish visual cues and their associated goals during tracheal intubation. Eye tracking data were reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) as memory recall cues. The advantage of such use of eye tracking data was that the SMEs did not have to provide frame-by-frame analysis of the fixations, since they provided speculation on fixations and mental processes, cued by the eye tracking data. Pilot trials showed the value of eye tracking data in CTA in terms of knowledge elicitation. Future exploration of such methodology is highly suggested given the increasing feasibility of deploying eye-tracking devices.