Task analysis: Part IIThe scientific basis (knowledge base) for the guide 1

Task analysis can be reduced to two fundamentally different types of procedure. The first type involves recording and classifying the main elements of the work system, the tasks involved, and the demands imposed on the basis of a stimulus organism response (SOR) paradigm. The second type evaluates the subjective perception of the work by the worker. These two types are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they are complementary in that the redefinition process (the worker's subjective perception) is not directly observable, whereas the tangible elements of the tasks and the stress factors recorded by objective task analysis procedures, such as postition analysis questionnaire (PAQ) and ergonomic job analysis procedure (AET) are directly observable. The design and execution of work system analyses depend primarily on their theoretical basis and the object of the analysis, for example, the work system, the job, and the individual worker. A comprehensive task analysis system can provide information on the undesirable components of a given job, better appreciation of the psychological stresses arising in the job, and a greater understanding of the tasks and requirements involved.