Task Analysis: Using a Roundabout in the U.K.

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2008 in the subject Ergonomics, grade: 1,3, University of Derby (Institut für Psychologie), course: Ergonomics, language: English, abstract: This report examines the task of using a roundabout in the United Kingdom (UK). It considers a special population: motorists who are not use to driving on the left. There seems to be no purely psychological literature existent about the issues with left-hand versus right-hand driving or roundabouts. Therefore, the report is a first attempt to gain insight into the subject matter and works from first principles. Firstly, it will describe the task 'using the roundabout'. Secondly, the user population will be specified. Thirdly, using the Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA; Sheperd, 2000; cited in Mills, 2007) the crucial aspects of the task will be described. Fourthly, positioning the task in a psychological context the main psychological factors and their inter-relations will be evaluated. Finally, solutions for the issues found and methods for further investigations will be introduced.