Premium
Process tracing of complex cognitive work tasks
Author(s) -
Patrick John,
James Nic
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of occupational and organizational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0963-1798
DOI - 10.1348/096317904774202171
Subject(s) - process tracing , tracing , popularity , coding (social sciences) , cognition , psychology , process (computing) , computer science , cognitive science , data science , cognitive psychology , human–computer interaction , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , neuroscience , politics , political science , law , operating system
Process tracing has become popular as a means of analysing a person's cognitive activities during complex work tasks. These tasks may be real or simulated. Despite the popularity of process tracing, no single methodology or prescribed set of techniques has emerged from the literature. There is variation in both the goal of process tracing and how it is carried out although unfortunately its nature and accompanying justification are often not made explicit. This paper proposes a four‐stage generic model of process tracing comprising: data collection (including behavioural records, verbal reports and eye movements); transcription, integration and segmentation of data into a time‐lined account; coding using cognitive categories; and further analysis and representation of the data. How these stages are accomplished is discussed in the context of examples from a range of field studies together with principles of good practice.