CognitiveTaskAnalysis(CTA)helpsresearchersunderstandhowcognitiveskillsandstrategiesmakeitpossibleforpeopletoacteffectivelyandgetthingsdone.CTAcanyieldinformationpeopleneed--employersfacedwithpersonnelissues,marketresearcherswhowanttounderstandthethoughtprocessesofconsumers,trainersandotherswhodesigninstructionalsystems,healthcareprofessionalswhowanttoapplylessonslearnedfromerrorsandaccidents,systemsanalystsdevelopinguserspecifications,andmanyotherprofessionals.CTAcanshowwhatmakestheworkplacework--andwhatkeepsitfromworkingaswellasitmight.WorkingMindsisatruehandbook,offeringasetoftoolsfordoingCTA:methodsforcollectingdataaboutcognitiveprocessesandevents,analyzingthem,andcommunicatingthemeffectively.Itcoversboththe"why"andthe"how"ofCTAmethods,providingexamples,guidance,andstoriesfromtheauthors'ownexperiencesasCTApractitioners.BecauseeffectiveuseofCTAdependsonsomeconceptualgroundingincognitivetheoryandresearch--onknowingwhatacognitiveperspectivecanoffer--thebookalsooffersanoverviewofcurrentresearchoncognition.ThebookprovidesdetailedguidanceforplanningandcarryingoutCTA,withchaptersoncapturingknowledgeandcapturingthewaypeoplereason.Itdiscussesstudyingcognitioninreal-worldsettingsandthechallengesofrapidlychangingtechnology.AnditdescribeskeyissuesinapplyingCTAfindingsinavarietyoffields.WorkingMindsmakesthemethodologyofCTAaccessibleandtheskillsinvolvedattainable.