Abstract
Technical communication is the process of conveying complex information to a varied audience, including both technical and non-technical individuals. It aims to make information usable and accessible. The dissertation provides an in-depth examination of technical communication's evolution in China, with a focus on enhancing user experience with technical documentation.
The dissertation is organized into seven chapters, beginning with the current state of technical communication in China, followed by three parts covering five research studies on various aspects of technical documentation, including the roles of technical communicators who create technical documentation, the design and evaluation of developer documentation, and the application of emotional design in user manuals. It concludes by summarizing key findings, discussing theoretical and practical implications, and suggesting future research directions.
This dissertation aims to answer five research questions. The first focuses on the state of the art of TC in China. The other four questions explore specific angles on TC in a Chinese context.
The five research questions are:
• RQ1. What is the development of technical communication as a professional discipline in China?
• RQ2. What are the learning habits, information journey, and expectations of Chinese developers regarding developer documentation?
• RQ3. What are key factors influencing the effectiveness of searching and finding technical documentation?
• RQ4. What are effective strategies for evaluating performance and user experience of developer documentation?
• RQ5. What is the impact of emotional design on user experience and effectiveness in technical documentation?
The dissertation is organized into seven chapters, beginning with the current state of technical communication in China, followed by three parts covering five research studies on various aspects of technical documentation, including the roles of technical communicators who create technical documentation, the design and evaluation of developer documentation, and the application of emotional design in user manuals. It concludes by summarizing key findings, discussing theoretical and practical implications, and suggesting future research directions.
This dissertation aims to answer five research questions. The first focuses on the state of the art of TC in China. The other four questions explore specific angles on TC in a Chinese context.
The five research questions are:
• RQ1. What is the development of technical communication as a professional discipline in China?
• RQ2. What are the learning habits, information journey, and expectations of Chinese developers regarding developer documentation?
• RQ3. What are key factors influencing the effectiveness of searching and finding technical documentation?
• RQ4. What are effective strategies for evaluating performance and user experience of developer documentation?
• RQ5. What is the impact of emotional design on user experience and effectiveness in technical documentation?
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 26 Feb 2024 |
| Place of Publication | Enschede |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-365-5983-6 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-365-5984-3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2024 |
Keywords
- Technical communication
- User Experience
- Developer Documentation
- Emotional Design