This book investigates the historical evolution of task analysis to demonstrate that the methodology has been inherently cognitive since its inception in applied psychology. Authors Laura G. Militello and Robert R. Hoffman provide a rigorous examination of how various research traditions have shaped the study of cognitive work over time. By tracing these developments, the authors argue that modern cognitive task analysis is the culmination of diverse, overlapping intellectual lineages rather than a recent invention. The text serves as a foundational synthesis for understanding the theoretical underpinnings of current human factors research.

Experts identify this work as a definitive reference for researchers and practitioners in the field of cognitive engineering. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a thorough and well-documented account of the discipline's development.