Verification and validation of a work domain analysis with Turing machine task analysis

Abstract

Whereas the use of work domain analysis as a methodological framework in cognitive engineering increases rapidly in frequency, verification and validation of work domain models produced by this method become yet a significant issue. In this article, we propose to use a method based on Turing machine formalism and named "Turing Machine Task Analysis" to verify and validate work domain models. The application of this method on a work domain analysis, a ship fresh water system which is a "causal domain" showed the possibility to highlight improvements that are needed by this model. More precisely, the step by step analysis of a degraded task scenario on the work domain model pointed out unsatisfactory aspects in first modelling, like over specification, under specification, omission of work domain affordances, or unsuitable inclusion of properties in the work domain model.