Activity theory: another perspective on task analysis.

Turner, Phil; McEwan, Tom

Authors

Phil Turner

Tom McEwan T.McEwan@napier.ac.uk
Enhanced Associate

Contributors

D Diaper
Editor

N Stanton
Editor

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce activity theory, describing its origins and its principal researchers and thinkers. We stress its descriptive power and its usefulness in defining uniquely a unit of analysis for work. We contrast its development with that of task analysis. We conclude with a brief demonstration of this descriptive power by using it as an organizing framework of the evaluation of a collaborative virtual environment.

Citation

Turner, P., & McEwan, T. (2003). Activity theory: another perspective on task analysis. In D. Diaper, & N. Stanton (Eds.), The Handbook of Task Analysis for Human-Computer Interaction (423-444). CRC Press

Publication Date	Sep 1, 2003
Deposit Date	Jul 24, 2008
Publicly Available Date	Jul 24, 2008
Publisher	CRC Press
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Pages	423-444
Book Title	The Handbook of Task Analysis for Human-Computer Interaction
ISBN	805844333
Keywords	Activity theory; Development; Application; Work analysis; Empirical evaluation;
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/1805