The completed results of the Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) performed on the NWS Warning Forecaster Position by Klein, Associates is now available for download from the WDTB website (see Download section below).

The benefits of having a CTA for any domain are many. A CTA captures how experts "think and what they know, how they organize and structure information, and what they seek to understand better. CTA methods describe the cognitive processes that underlie performance of tasks and the cognitive skills needed to respond adeptly to complex situations."

Klein, Associates have a history of interacting with domains which are characterized by decision making in an environment which is complex, uncertain, stressful, and time critical. This would include that of firefighters, fighter pilots, oncologists, air traffic controllers, and nuclear power plant operators. They have also done previous research with weather forecasters. (For more information about CTAs see: http://www.decisionmaking.com/approach/whatisCTA.html).

The project has been conducted during the last six months using interviews with recognized experts in the field of operational warnings. Although the scope of this project was limited based on funds and time, those selected for the interviews capture a subset of the expertise that exists in the field of operational warning forecasting.

For those who are intimately familiar with warning operations, the processes captured here will likely not reveal anything new. For those who are not, the findings may allow a clearer picture of what is going on with warning forecasters during severe weather events. Other applications of a CTA include using the results as a basis for input into software and hardware design and development, as well as a means to help guide research and training efforts.

It is hoped that this initial project can be expanded upon in the future to not only increase the breadth of the data set, but also to point to areas where additional human factors research would be beneficial.

Download: Final Report of the CTA of the Warning Forecaster Position

• PDF Version (.pdf, 419 kb)
• MS Word Document (.doc, 230 kb)