Single sourcing through a content management system (CMS) is altering technical communication practices in many organizations, including institutions of higher education. Open source software (OSS) solutions are currently among the most popular content management platforms adopted by colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. The…

Examines literature written about annual reports to identify trends in research and determine areas of future study. Categorizes articles as related to regulations and guidelines, summary annual reports, online annual reports, rhetorical analysis of annual reports, readability and accessibility of annual reports, methods of conveying negative…

Presents an overview of cognitive psychology research on the effects of aging on literacy and suggests the additional complications facing older adults who consume and produce text within the frame of technology, particularly, on-line usage. Gives suggestions of possible ways of addressing concerns regarding aging. (SG)

Argues that current approaches to computer graphing practices are ill suited to meet the complex needs of real users. Offers an overview of work in two major areas of graphing theory and research: the sociology of science and the educational research of mathematics and scientific students. Suggests what technical communicators can do to improve…

Examines three sought-after Instructional Technology Outcomes (increased productivity, managed change, and enhanced human abilities) concluding that much of IT falls short through impoverished implementation planning and blind faith in technology to solve problems. Discusses four areas of opportunity. Argues that these factors may culminate in…

Considers the potential importance of brain study for composition instruction, briefly describes functional imaging techniques, and reviews the findings of recent brain-mapping studies investigating the neurocognitive systems involved in language function. Presents a review of the recent literature and considers the possible implications of this…

Claims technical writing, which emerged during the Renaissance, gained credibility and prestige during the 1641-1700 period. Provides examples and outlines general characteristics of the technical writing of this period. Discusses writings in the major disciplines as well as influences on the development of technical writing. (NH)

Reviews and compares views of grammarians, usage experts, and authors of technical writing books concerning "dangling participles." Finds many unattached clauses are unacceptable, some are less objectionable, and still others are acceptable. Notes that cultural (and perhaps gender) differences between humanistic teachers and task-oriented…

Reviews discussions of online editing in technical communication literature. Discusses calls for emulating handwritten mark-up and author queries electronically. Discusses studies of online reading and composition whose results suggest that the materiality of hard-copy editing may contribute to inherent advantages over online emulations. Urges an…

Reviews the data collection process--process is crucial because data offer empirical answers to theoretical research questions. Finds that, although the literature provides much instruction on the treatment of collected data, far less has been written about the selection of the data. Focuses on this overlooked portion of research methodology. (PA)

Investigates gerontological research literature to discover what is known about age deficiencies in cognitive processes which might adversely influence instructional text processing. Maintains that, on the basis of findings, tentative guidelines could be given on designing such manuals. Proposes follow-up research to gather more knowledge on the…

Offers a select, 105-item bibliography highlighting research on technical communication published by, for, or about Canadians. Classifies Canadian research by form (books and articles) and by subject (translation studies, technology studies, graphics studies, historical studies, studies of the profession, specialty studies, genre studies, and…

Reviews recent articles focusing on the controversy surrounding the appropriateness of readability formulas for technical writing. Suggests that further research should be conducted to study empirically how readability as a concept might be used to aid the technical writer since readability formulas are shaping computerized editing programs. (KEH)

Reviews previous research on the effects of signals (structural cues that announce or emphasize content or reveal content relationships) on readers' comprehension of expository prose. Concludes that inconsistent results are due to inadequate methodologies that fail to control for confounding variables, such as text length and difficulty, topic…

Claims that the development process for computer software can be greatly aided by the writers of specifications if they employ basic iteration and prototyping techniques. Asserts that computer software configuration management practices provide ready models for iteration and prototyping. (HB)