Surveys and critiques what has been written about style checkers and text-editing capabilities of the computer to assist in revising technical writing. Finds the literature inconclusive largely because it is anecdotal and methodologically flawed. Suggests a new research agenda and focus. (KEH)

Reviews ancient theory and modern research regarding the effect of imagery on memory. Suggests present-day technical communicators use, where possible, a particular kind of image to illustrate proceduralized instructions. Provides examples and illustrations that create special images. (KEH)

Suggests that cohesion is best understood as a general perceptual phenomenon rather than a purely semantic one. Discusses three types of structural cohesion based on an analysis of technical texts: cohesion produced through thematic progression, parallelism, and graphic devices. (SR)

Investigates passive voice in scientific writing by examining whether changes in rhetorical role within 12 scientific texts are paralleled by changes in the relative number of passive and active structures. Finds passive structures more appropriate for expository purposes (describing procedures and presenting data), and active structures for…

Reports on how Dutch instructive texts have changed in the course of this century. Gives insight into the kinds of documents studied. Presents investigation results: the disappearance of persuasive passages and of realistic representations of human beings. Gives a detailed sketch of the development of the algorithmic style. (PA)

Examines the visual manual genre, discussing main forms and functions of step-by-step and guided tour manuals in detail. Examines whether a visual manual helps computer users realize tasks faster and more accurately than a non-visual manual. Finds no effects on accuracy, but speedier task execution by 35% for visual manuals. Concludes there is no…

Compares three formats for presenting a number of similar procedures in printed instructions: separate lists, an integrated list, and a table. Expects that the integrated list format and the table format will provide overview of the features common to the similar procedures--finds such results did not appear. Finds that none of the formats scored…

Tests the relative efficiency and learning effect of text, pictures, and animation in online help systems, designing six versions of a help system for telephones. Presents operational information in text, pictures, or animation, with or without spatial information. Shows that presenting operational information via text was most efficient and that…

Describes efforts to convert technical writing paper course material to an online advisory system, "Ganesh Helper." Assesses aspects of use of the new media, logging students' actions and observations while writing a report. Finds that a majority of students surveyed felt the helpviewer easy to use and useful, but most still preferred…

Discusses the adequacy of two modes of presenting information on a computer screen, the "alternating" (screen by screen) presentation and the "simultaneous" screen presentation (different information on one screen at the same time). Tests subjects performing writing tasks using one online document or two documents, using either…

States that, concerning declarative information in software manuals, most research methods are aimed at measuring specific information effects, hardly ever yielding data about what users elect/use if they have a choice. Describes a new approach which experiments with operationalization of the information types and three different user types. Show…

States that metaphors/analogies can be helpful when people have to learn to use something. Examines computer software manual material language. Finds that expressions suggesting that computers have an affective relationship to the user or communicate their intentions through human language appear to be perceived as anthropomorphistic and might…

Asks if technical writers can predict results of a reader-focused text evaluation. Asks 15 technical writers to point out reader problems in a public information brochure, which was also evaluated by 30 readers from the target audience. Finds little overlap and little agreement among writers as to their problem detections. (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…

Examines the phenomenon of "silent speech" (unconsciously translating what is read into a speechlike code to create meaning) based upon research of cognitive psychologists and psycholinguists. Develops a phonological model of reading based on this research; applies the model to technical communication--use of punctuation and pronouns,…