A Comparison of the Decision Ladder and the Recognition-Primed Decision Model

Cognitive work analysis and cognitive task analysis approach the analysis of decisions in ways that are at least superficially dissimilar. In this paper, I review the two approaches, work (or control) task analysis and naturalistic decision making, to identify similarities and differences, and I assess the implications of looking at decisions from these two different perspectives. I conclude that although these two approaches are superficially dissimilar, they are theoretically compatible. However, the standard form of decision ladder, which is the representational product of work (or control) task analysis, does not take full account of contemporary insights from the three-stage model of situation awareness, the distinction between implicit and explicit cognitive processing, or the principles of naturalistic decision making. I propose modifications of the decision ladder to incorporate these ideas.