The use of verbal protocols to understand and design skill-based tasks

A study of the effects of increased levels of automation on the human operator illustrates the use of a computer-based approach to the use of verbal protocols as data in skill-based tasks, such as printed circuit board inspection. Subjects provided very detailed protocols at four automation levels, as well as generating performance and preference data. Although only one performance measure and one preference measure gave useful results, the use of verbal protocols provided many insights into the system-human interaction. Supplementing traditional performance measures with verbal protocols appears to be an appropriate strategy, even when the task is primarily at the skill level.