Protocol analysis

Protocol analysis is a research method primarily used in cognitive psychology and related fields to study the thoughts and processes involved in human problem-solving, decision-making, and learning. It involves the collection and analysis of "protocols," which are verbal reports or transcripts that individuals generate while performing a task. These verbalizations can take the form of think-aloud protocols, where participants vocalize their thoughts in real-time, or retrospective think-aloud protocols, where participants recall their thought processes after completing a task.