TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Are User Surveys the best approach for defining your audienc
Subject:Are User Surveys the best approach for defining your audienc From:Kelly Burhenne <burhennk -at- SMTPGW -dot- LIEBERT -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 1 Feb 1995 16:59:47 EST
Text item: Text_1
My department has decided to "better define our end-user". We are
considering taking the survey approach. Can anyone make suggestions as
to some good questions to ask on a user survey? And how can we get
them to send it back? We've got to start somewhere, but is a survey
the best approach?
A little background: our users are employed by our company (i.e., they
are field engineers). We are trying to determine if there is too much
junk in the manuals, not enough, and generally what we can do to make
manuals better for them. We've never really gotten a lot of input
from the users; we all just assumed we knew what they needed (there
are quite a lot of inflated egos around here)!
You can reply to me directly if you wish and I will summarize.
Thanks,
Kelly Burhenne
burhennk -at- smtpgw -dot- liebert -dot- com
Columbus, OH
