Task Analysis Research Research Articles

Teaching domains of clinical instruction from the experiences of preceptors

Clinical teaching is vital to prepare nursing students for the role, build learning experiences, and ease transition. This study aimed at exploring the pedagogical principles that guide clinical educators in teaching undergraduate nursing students. The descriptive, qualitative, multiple-case study design, guided by the cognitive task analysis research, helped gain insights into how 18 nurse preceptors provided clinical instruction. The design entailed direct observation of preceptors while teaching students followed by interviews. Observation notes and interview data were analyzed using pattern identification and data thematization. Teaching practices of preceptors were grouped into four domains: (1) partnership, (2) competence-building, (3) nurturing, and (4) meaning-making. The domains represent the pedagogical principles that underpin the preceptors’ instructional practice. While the focus of instruction was on competence-building of students, the meaning-making domain was found subordinated by most of preceptors. The findings support prior recommendations that expertise and proficiency must not be the sole agents for selecting preceptors. This study will significantly contribute to the advancement of nursing education through an improved education system that incorporates the four domains in clinical instruction in general, and preceptor preparation in specific. The emergent domains contribute to setting the framework of clinical instruction.

Review of Task Analysis Research of Significant Events in Psychotherapy

Task analysis is a process and outcome research method in psychotherapy proposed by Greenberg (1975). This method is intended to a) check the efficacy of a specific technique as applied to a certain in-session event; b) clarify the elements and the process that makes such an intervention effective; c) assess how much the solution of that event contributes to the overall treatment success. The task-analyzed interventions are described at a micro-process level, which facilitates reliable training and the practice of effective techniques applied to a wide range of key events of the psychotherapeutic process. GOAL: To compile and organize all tasks analyzed to date in order to facilitate access to this training and practice resource. METHOD: Literature review of task analysis research programs carried out to date. RESULTS: Thirty-seven task analysis research programs analyzing significant events from the perspective of several psychotherapy models and settings were found. Only five of these have been completed to date, but twenty-six have produced effective intervention models. CONCLUSIONS: Although task analysis is a very expensive psychotherapy research method, it generates highly valuable resources for practice and training in psychotherapy. Every task analysis which has completed the discovery phase produce a refined and empirically supported intervention model.

Subjective job task analyses for physically demanding occupations: What is best practice?

Workers in physically demanding occupations (PDOs) are frequently subjected to physical selection tests. To avoid legal ramifications, workplaces must be able to show that any personnel selection procedures reflect the inherent requirements of the job. A job task analysis (JTA) is fundamental in determining the work tasks required for employees. To date, there are no published instructions guiding PDO researchers on how to conduct job task analyses. Job task analysis research for non-PDOs offers some insight into the expected reliability and validity of data obtained on the most prevalent task domains in job analysis (importance, frequency, time spent and difficulty). This review critiques such research, and the existing published material on JTA of PDOs, and provides recommendations for future research and practice. Practitioner Summary: There are no published guidelines for physically demanding occupation (PDO) researchers conducting job task analysis (JTA). Given the legal consequences of improperly conducted JTA, scientifically valid instructions for JTA practitioners are required. This review critiques existing research which analyses reliabilities of JTA data, and provides guidelines for PDO researchers conducting JTA.

Developing a protocol for bioinformatics analysis: An integrated information behavior and task analysis approach

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to capture, understand, and model the process used by bioinformatics analysts when facing a specific scientific problem. Integrating information behavior with task analysis, we interviewed 20 bioinformatics experts about the process they follow to conduct a typical bioinformatics analysis—a functional analysis of a gene, and then used a task analysis approach to model that process. We found that each expert followed a unique process in using bioinformatics resources, but had significant similarities with their peers. We synthesized these unique processes into a standard research protocol, from which we developed a procedural model that describes the process of conducting a functional analysis of a gene. The model protocol consists of a series of 16 individual steps, each of which specifies detail for the type of analysis, how and why it is conducted, the tools used, the data input and output, and the interpretation of the results. The linking of information behavior and task analysis research is a novel approach, as it provides a rich high‐level view of information behavior while providing a detailed analysis at the task level. In this article we concentrate on the latter.

Toward a mini-theory of the blamer softening event: tracking the moment-by-moment process.

In this article we present the results of a discovery-oriented task analysis research study identifying specific therapist behaviors that facilitate softening events in emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples. Therapy sessions conducted by an expert EFT therapist were examined. Six therapist content theme shifts were identified and specific interventions were delineated within each using an EFT coding scheme (EFT-CS) created for this study. This study extends the theoretical understanding of the softening process--a key change event in an empirically validated couples therapy approach--and provides a detailed clinical map for the training of therapists.

Task frequency rating accuracy: The effect of task engagement and experience.

In this study, researchers examined the effect of task engagement and experience on frequency rating accuracy with an objective measure of task frequency. By contrasting findings from the memory literature on frequency estimation with current task analysis practices, these investigators proposed that task performers and respondents with low levels of experience would generate more accurate frequency estimates compared with task observers and respondents with high levels of experience. Participants were randomly assigned to a task engagement condition (performer vs. observer) as well as to an experience condition (low vs. high). In support of the hypotheses, participants in the performer and low-experience conditions demonstrated greater accuracy in their frequency ratings. These findings were illustrated with several different measures of accuracy. Implications for task analysis research and practices are discussed.