Protocol analysis: A neglected practice

Owen, Stephen; Budgen, David; Brereton, Pearl

Abstract

Protocol analysis is an evidence-gathering technique with an established record in experimental psychology. It can help extract expert knowledge and reasoning and codify experience in a complementary manner. Protocol analysis provides valuable insight into the subjects to discover, use, and navigate the information within a dynamic environment. It can be used by computer scientists and software engineers to investigate the influence of human factors in software development. This technique allows the length and composition of thought-action processes to be seen much clearly. Protocol analysis can draw out distinct evidence of this being the case, including long chains of thoughts and actions that finish successfully. It also can help to reveal the difference between what is eventually done, a distinction not always made by the subject.

Citation

Owen, S., Budgen, D., & Brereton, P. (2006). Protocol analysis: A neglected practice. Communications of the ACM, 49(2), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.1145/1113034.1113039

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Publication Date: Jun 26, 2006
• Deposit Date: Feb 22, 2025
• Journal: Communications of the ACM
• Print ISSN: 0001-0782
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-7317
• Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 49
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 117-122
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/1113034.1113039
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3500903