Cognitive Task Analysis for Training*

Published as: Clark, R. E. and Estes, F. (1996)Cognitive task analysis, International Journal of Educational Research. 25(5). 403-417. Abstract Two factors have made behaviorally-based task analysis training systems obsolete: 1) these systems cannot describe the complex knowledge required of European and North American workers by recent changes in the global economy, and 2) recent research in cognition show that the cognitive processes and structures involved in complex work tasks serve as a more useful content for training and development. A description and a brief review of research on cognitive task analysis (CTA) systems is provided. Claims for the benefits of CTA will be discussed, including Means and Gott's (1988) suggestion that the equivalent of five years of advanced job knowledge can be transmitted in about 50 hours of training based on CTA. The article concludes with a call to include current knowledge of CTA in training design systems and for additional research directed to the development of CTA systems.