IngentaConnect Using GOMS for Modeling Routine Tasks Within Complex Sociotechnic...

Authors: West, Robert L.; Nagy, Gabriella

Source: Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, Volume 1, Number 2, Summer 2007 , pp. 186-211(26)

Publisher: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Abstract:

Cognitive modeling has not yet played much of a role in the study of sociotechnical systems. Arguably, this is because most cognitive modeling systems were originally created to model microcognitive results, not the types of macrocognitive behaviors that drive sociotechnical systems (Klein et al., 2003). However, this does not mean that cognitive modeling systems cannot be adapted to deal with macrocognitive activities in ways that are relevant to cognitive engineering. Previous research using GOMS in sociotechnical systems indicated that GOMS is problematic to use when interruptions and task switching are common; therefore, we added new theoretical structures to GOMS to deal with these issues. We tested the system by constructing a model of routine network maintenance and installation at a large telecommunications company. We then compared the model predictions with observations of the work. The results showed that the model results were useful in guiding the research and organizing the findings.

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Using GOMS for Modeling Routine Tasks Within Complex Sociotechnical Systems: Connecting Macrocognitive Models to Microcognition