Activity Analysis

• Occupational analysis is often called activity analysis.¹ 
• Analysis of performance patterns, skills, and client factors helps to identify the activity demands on the client.² 
• Activity analysis is ‘generic and decontextualized in its purpose’.
• Serves to develop an understanding of the activity demands within a given culture.
• Performed with an understanding of the specific situation of the client and the occupations that the client is motivated to perform.³ 
• An occupational analysis is client-specific in their subjective perspective, whereas activity analysis is a generic perspective within a given culture.² 

Steps to Activity Analysis⁴ 

1. Determine what is being analyzed
2. Determine its relevance and meaning to the client
3. Determine the sequence (order) and timing (when or how long)
4. Determine the demands (tools, supplies, equipment, environment, space, social)
5. Determine the body structures and functions involved
6. Determine the required actions
7. Determined the required performance skills involved

1. Nelson, D. L. (1988). Occupation: Form and performance. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 42(10), 633-641.[↩]
2. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001[↩][↩]
3. Schell, B. A. B., Gillen, G., Crepeau, E., & Scaffa, M. (2019). Analyzing occupations and activity. In B. A. B. Schell & G. Gillen (Eds.), Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (13th ed., pp. 320–333). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.[↩]
4. Thomas, H. (2012). Occupation-based activity analysis. Slack Incorporated.[↩]