Chapter 1

Introduction to
Technical Communication and
Research
Technical Communication
Fourteenth Edition, Global Edition

John M. Lannon
Laura J. Gurak

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 What Is
Technical Communication?
 Technical communication is the exchange of
information that helps people interact with technology
and solve complex problems.
 To interact with technology in so many ways, we need
information that is not only technically accurate but
also easy to understand and use.

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 What Is Technical
Communication? (continued)
 Technical communication serves various
needs in various settings.

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 Technical communication serves
Any document or presentation we prepare (memo,
letter, report, Web page, PowerPoint) must advance
the goals of our readers, viewers, or listeners.

People may need to perform a task

 assemble a new exercise machine
Answer a question
 about the safety of a flu shot
make a decision
 say, about suspending offshore oil
drilling

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 Technical Communication Is a
Digital and a Human Activity
People make information meaningful by thinking
critically and addressing such questions as:
 Which information is relevant to this situation?
 Can I verify the accuracy of this source?
 What does this information mean?
 What action does it suggest?
 How does this information affect me or my
colleagues?
 With whom should I share it?
 How might others interpret this information?

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 Technical Communication Reaches
a Global Audience
 Electronically linked, our global community shares social,
political, and financial interests.
 To connect with all readers, technical documents need to
reflect global and intercultural diversity.
 Cultures differ over which behaviors seem appropriate for
social interaction, business relationships, contract negotiation,
and communication practices.

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 Technical Communication Is
Part of Most Careers
 Whatever your job description, expect
to be evaluated, at least in part, on your
communication skills.
 Most professionals serve as part-time technical
communicators.
 Technical communication skills—such as the
ability to write and speak effectively, research
information, work with teams, and be
persuasive—are portable.

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 Appreciate the role of technical
communication in most careers

IBM subsidiary, for example, 25 percent of an

employee’s evaluation is based on how
effectively that person shares information
(Davenport 99)

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 Technical Communicators
Play Many Roles
Full-time technical communicators serve many
roles, such as:
 Producing newsletters, pamphlets, journals, and
public relations material.
 Preparing instructional material, reports, proposals,
and scripts for industrial films.
 Preparing sales literature, publicity releases,
handbooks, catalogs, brochures, Web pages,
intranet content, articles, speeches, and oral and
multimedia presentations.

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 Main Features of
Technical Communication
Technical communication is:
 Reader-centered
 Accessible and efficient
 Often produced by teams
 Delivered in paper and digital versions

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 Reader-centered
Unlike poetry, fiction, or college essays, a technical document rarely focuses on

the writer’s personal thoughts and feelings. This doesn’t mean that your document

should have no personality (or voice), but it does mean that the needs of your

readers come first.

Workplace readers typically are interested in “who you are” only to the extent that

they want to know what you have done, what you recommend, or how you speak

for your company. Reader-centered documents focus on what people need to

learn, do, or decide.

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 Accessible and efficient
Readers expect to find the information they need and to have questions answered clearly. For
instance, the document shown in Figure 1.2
An accessible and efficient technical document includes elements such as
those displayed in Figure 1.2 as well as others listed below.
• worthwhile content—includes all (and only) the information readers need
• sensible organization—guides the reader and emphasizes important material
• readable style—promotes fluid reading and accurate understanding
• effective visuals—clarify concepts and relationships, and substitute for words whenever
possible
• effective page design—provides heads, lists, type styles, white space, and other aids to
navigation
• supplements (abstract, appendix, glossary, linked pages, and so on)—
allow readers to focus on the specific parts of a long document that are relevant to their purpose

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 Often produced by teams
Technical documents are often complex. Instead of being produced by alone

writer, complex documents usually are created by teams composed of writers,

Web designers, engineers or scientists, managers, legal experts, and other

professionals. The teams might be situated at one site or location or distributed

across different job sites, time zones, and countries.

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 Delivered in paper and digital versions
Technical documents can be delivered in a variety of media such
as print (hard copy), CDs, Web pages, PDF documents, ebooks,
podcasts, and online videos.
In many cases, distinctions between print and digital
communication are becoming blurred. Figure 1.2 is a good
example: The document is in PDF format and can be read on the
Web, downloaded to a computer, phone, or tablet for future
reading, or printed on paper.

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 Purposes of
Technical Communication

Technical communication serves three purposes that

sometimes overlap:
 To inform: Anticipate and answer your readers’ questions.
 To instruct: Enable your readers to perform certain tasks.
 To persuade: Motivate your readers.

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 Preparing Effective Technical Documents
 How do I prepare the right document for this group of readers and this

particular situation?”
 The four basic tasks of an effective technical communicator are:

1. Deliver information readers can use: because different people in different

situations have different information needs
2. Use persuasive reasoning: because people often disagree about what the
information means and what action should be taken

3. Weigh the ethical issues: because unethical communication lacks

credibility and could alienate readers

4. Practice good teamwork: because working in teams is how roughly 90

percent of U.S. workers spend some part of their day

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Preparing Effective Technical
Documents (continued)
 This graphic illustrates the four tasks:

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 Introduction to
Research

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 What is Research?

he researcher poses a question.

he researcher collects data to answer the question.

he researcher presents an answer to the question.

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 Importance of Research (1 of 3)

eason 1: Research adds to our knowledge.

 Addresses gaps in knowledge

 Expands knowledge

 Replicates knowledge

 Adds voices of individuals to knowledge

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 Importance of Research (2 of 3)

eason 2: Research helps improve practice.

 Educators gain new ideas for their job.

 Educators gain new insights into approaches.

 Educators can connect with other educators.

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 Importance of Research (3 of 3)

eason 3: Research helps inform policy debates.

 Research allows people to weigh different perspectives
on issues.
 Research enables people to make informed decisions
regarding policy.

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 Problems with Research Today

ontradictory or vague findings

uestionable data

nclear statements about the intent of the study

ack of full disclosure of the data collection procedure

narticulate rendering of the research problem

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 Research Design
• Research Design is a kind of blueprint that we prepare before actually carrying

out research.

• Research Design is the strategic plan of the project that sets out the broad

structure of the research.

• Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen

by a researcher.

• A Research Design is simply a structural framework of various research

methods as well as techniques that are utilized by a researcher.

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The Research Process Cycle

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10 Steps in Research Design

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The Process of Research: Identify
the Research Problem

pecify a problem

ustify a problem

uggest a need to study the problem for audiences

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The Process of Research: Review
the Literature
ocate resources
 Books

 Journals

 Electronic resources

hoose resources to include in the review

ummarize the literature in a written report

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The Process of Research: Specify
a Research Purpose

dentify the purpose statement

 The major intent of the study

 The participants in the study

 The site of the study

arrow the purpose statement to research questions

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 The Research Process: Collect
Data
etermine the data collection method

elect the individuals to study

btain permissions

esign data collection instruments and outline data collection procedures

ather data

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The Research Process: Analyze
and Interpret Data

ake the data apart to look at individual responses

epresent the data in tables, figures, and pictures

xplain conclusions from the data that address the research

questions
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 The Research Process: Report
and Evaluate Research (1 of 2)

eport research
 Determine the audience for the report

 Structure the report

 Write the report sensitively and accurately

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 The Research Process: Report
and Evaluate Research (2 of 2)

valuate research
 Assess quality of research using recognized standards

 Standards arise from the

academic community

school districts

federal or state agencies

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Thanks for attendance

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