The process of conducting a task analysis is one of determining exactly and in greatest detail what people do when they perform a certain job, or what they need to know when they enter a certain course of study. A task analysis is sometimes, but not always, preceded by a needs assessment to identify discrepancies between training or educational programs or courses that exist and programs or courses that ought to exist. Task analyses are conducted so that instructionally important tasks may be identified, instructional time conserved, and costs kept to a minimum. Also provided from task analysis is a list of behaviors from which student centered instructional objectives may be derived. This paper describes task analysis in six sections: (1) what task analysis is; (2) why conduct task analysis; (3) where task analyses are conducted; (4) when to conduct a task analysis; (5) who conducts task analyses; and (6) how they are conducted. Information is provided on listing identified tasks, creating a detailed description of what needs to be done, and constructing a task analysis work sheet. (JD)