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.
Subject:Need studies on why help is needed? From:Ann MacDonald <annm -at- CSDC -dot- TOSHIBA -dot- COM -dot- AU> Date:Thu, 27 Mar 1997 15:11:37 --1000
I am currently doing a Masters project in Information and need
some help in finding empirical studies that show
that users of software have gaps in their knowledge
when they use it, (the software) which need to be filled.
This is often a manual, online help etc. but it could be
anything. I need to be able to justify producing an info product
because that is what the user needs and will seek out. I can
find studies that show how to produce effective help etc, but not
much on why online help should be produced at all.
If anyone knows of any studies that could be useful could
they please point me in the right direction.
Thanks
Ann MacDonald
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html