Task Analysis—Instructional Systems Development

Data Collection Methodology

How you collect data for a task analysis can vary widely depending upon the needs of the organization, the time allotted for the task, and the nature of the information to be identified. The following sections describe methods you can use to collect data for a task analysis.

Observations

When directly observing employees performing tasks in the work setting, do the following:

• Make sure that you explain to the employees, their supervisors, and union representatives the purpose of your observation.

• Explain that the work performed during the observation period must be done exactly as it is always done, not modified because of the observer.

• Take notes on each work task and element.

• Use the observation data to validate findings ...