We elected to take multiple approaches in our analysis, using both Hierarchical Task Analysis and an entity-relationship model to fully explore the task space.
Hierarchical Task Analysis
Figure 1: HTA Diagram
0.In order to Participate in a speed dating event
Attendee signs up for event on web
Attendee arrives at venue
Moderator gives instructions for evening
Moderator initiates the start of the first speed Date
Attendee takes place at his/her first position
Attendee begins Speed Date
Attendee does initial evaluation of Date based on physical characteristics
Attendee observes Date
Attendee performs subjective evaluation of Date's attractiveness
Attendee asks question
Attendee formulates question
Attendee speaks question aloud
Attendee observes Date's reaction to question
Attendee waits for Date to respond to question
Date responds to question
Attendee listens to Date speak
Date asks question
Date speaks question aloud
Attendee listens to question
Attendee formulates answer to question
Attendee speaks answer out loud
Attendee observes Date's reaction to answer
Atendee writes down notes about date
Attendee evaluates Date
Attendee makes inferences about Date based on verbal and non-verbal data
Attendee evaluates Date based on inferences
Speed Date Ends
Moderator blows whistle
Attendee makes notes about current Date on worksheet for possible review later
Attendee makes overall assesment of Date based on collective data gathered
Attendee reevaluates criteria used to compare Dates based on new information
Attendee makes an initial compatibility selection regarding the current Date
Attendee marks the appropriate compatibility checkbox on worksheet for
current Date
Men rotate to next table
Attendee leaves the venue
Attendee performs post-event web based activities
Attendee registers selections on website
Attendee waits 24 hours for all other Attendees to register selections
Website generates list of Matches based on recorded selections
Website notifies Attendees that Matches have been created
Attendee checks to see with whom they have been matched
Attendee and Matches contact each other to meet or talk
Plan 0: 1 – 6
If Attendee asks question 6.2
If Date asks question 6.3
If Attendee wants to record something of interest about Date 6.4
If time us up at with current date 7
If the men are back to their intial position 8 - 9
Entity-Relationship ModelObject Attendee Human ActorActions:
A1: Attendee Signs up on website
A2: Arrive at venue
A3: Listen to moderator
A4: Take place at position
A5: Observe date
A6: Ask questions
A7: Answer questions
A8: Write notes
A9: Evaluate date
A10: Make compatibility decision
A11: Mark the compatibility checkbox on worksheet
A12: Leave Venue
A13: Register Selections on the Website
A14: Check website for Matches
A15: Contact Match partner to arrange to meet/talk
Attributes
Criteria: Qualities believed necessary for a date to be a compatible Match
Selections: Dates selected to be a Match
Object Date Human Actor Actions:
D1: Ask question
D2: Answer question
Attributes:
Qualities: Personal attributes sought by Attendee
Object The Men CompositeComprises: {All Male Attendees}
Actions:
N1: Locate and Move to next Table in Sequence
Object Moderator Human ActorActions:
M1: Orient Attendees at start of session
M2: Initiates the start of the first Speed Date
M3: blows whistle when time is up at station
M4: Gives instructions at end of session
object Venue Simple physical space in which event occurs
Attributes:
location: Physical address of event
Object Worksheet Simple Paper for recording information about othersAttributes:
List of Attendees
Compatibility Check boxes: Yes/No
Notes Area: To Record information about other Attendees
Object Website Simple Speed Dating website that Matches Attendees Actions:
W1: Generates list of Matches
W2: Sends notification of Matches
W3: Forwards contact email from one Match partner to another
Attributes:
Profiles: List of online profiles of Attendees
Preferences: List of each Attendee's Preferences
Matches: List of Matches based on Preferences
Object Station SimpleTables at which Attendee and Dates converseAttributes:
Visited: Yes or No
Identifier: Number or Letter in Table Sequence
Attendee: Woman assigned to a particular position for the duration of the event
Object Match compositeComprises: {two Attendees who have Selected each other as compatible}
Attributes:
Contacted: Yes or No
Object Match List Simple listing if all Matches for one Attendee
Attributes:
Attendee: Name of Attendee
Matches: Names of Matches
Events
Ev4: Pre-determined time for a date is up
Ev6: All Attendees have registered their Selections on the website
Relations: action-object
instrument (A1, Website)
- Register for event using website
patient (A2, Venue)
- Arrive at venue
patient (A3, Moderator)
- listen to moderator's instructions
patient(A4, Station)
- Sit down at Station
patient (A5, Date)
- Observe date
patient (A6, Date)
- Ask questions of Date
patient (A7, Date)
- answer questions from Date
patient (D1, Attendee)
- Ask questions of Attendee
patient (D2, Attendee)
- Answer questions from Attendee
patient (A8, Worksheet)
- Record notes on the worksheet
patient(A9, Date)
- Determine if date meets criteria
instrument(A10, Worksheet)
- Determine if date met criteria to become a Selection
patient(A11, Worksheet)
- Mark compatability checkbox on worksheet
Patient(A12, Venue)
- Leave venue
instrument(A13, Worksheet)
- Use worksheet to identify Date Selections
patient (A13, Website)
- Record selections on the website
patient(W1, Match)
- Generates Matches based on mutual attendee-date selection
instrument(A14, Website)
- Check matches using website
action(A15, Date)
- Contact each other to arrange future dates
Relations: action-event
triggers(M2, A4)
- The Attendee takes a seat when the Moderator signals the start of the event.
triggers(Ev4, M3)
- When the pre-determined length a date is reached, the moderator blows the whistle.
triggers(M3, N1)
- The Moderator blows the whistle to instruct the men to move to the next Station in the sequence.
triggers(A6, D2)
- The Date answers a question when the Attendee asks it.
trigger(D1, A7)
- After the Date asks a question the Attendee answers it
causes(A5|D2, A9)
- Observing the date and/or the dates answers to questions causes the attendee to evaluate the date
before(A9, A10)
- The Attendee must evaluate the date before compatibility can be determined
before(A10, A11)
- Compatibiliy must be detrmined before the Checkbox on the worksheet can be checked.
before(A10, A13)
- Compatibility decision must be made before entering selections into website
triggers(W1, Ev6)
- The website sends a notification to all Attendees as soon as all the attendees have entered their selections
before(W3, A15)
- The Attendees must get sent each others emails before they can contact each other
Characteristics of Tasks Performed by Attendee During a Speed Date
COGNITIVE:
Attendee performs subjective evaluation of Date's attractiveness
Attendee formulates question
Attendee waits for date to respond to question
Attendee formulates answer to question
Attendee makes assumptions about date based on verbal and non-verbal data
Attendee evaluates Date based on inferences
Attendee makes overall assessment of Date based on collective data gathered
Attendee reevaluates criteria used to compare Dates based on new information
Attendee makes an initial compatibility selection regarding the current Date
PERCEPTUAL:
Attendee observes date
Attendee observes date's reaction to question
Attendee listens to date speak
Attendee listens to question
Attendee observes date's reaction to question
MOTOR:
Attendee takes place at his/her first position
Attendee speaks question out loud
Attendee speaks answer out loud
Attendee makes notes about current Date on worksheet for possible review later
Attendee marks the appropriate compatibility checkbox on worksheet
Men rotate to next table (If attendee is male)
