Work sampling is the statistical technique used for determining the proportion of time spent by workers in various defined categories of activity (e.g. setting up a machine, assembling two parts, idle...etc.).
[1] It is as important as all other statistical techniques because it permits quick analysis, recognition, and enhancement of job responsibilities, tasks, performance competencies, and organizational work flows.
[2] In a work sampling study, a large number of observations are made of the workers over an extended period of time.
One important usage of the work sampling technique is the determination of the standard time for a manual manufacturing task.
number of observations Work sampling was initially developed for determining time allocation among workers' tasks in manufacturing environments.
[3] However, the technique has also been applied more broadly to examine work in a number of different environments, such as healthcare[4] and construction.
[5] More recently, in the academic fields of organizational psychology and organizational behaviour, the basic technique has been developed into a detailed job analysis method for examining a range of different research questions.