A Research Primer for Technical Communication: Methods, Exemplars, and Analyses

by Hughes; Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780805863352
• ISBN10: 0805863354
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-08-10
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This practical volume provides a thorough introduction to conducting and critically reading research in technical communication, complete with exemplars of research articles for study. Authors Michael A. Hughes and George F. Hayhoe have structured Part 1 of the volume to aid students in identifying a research topic, reviewing the appropriate literature, constructing a test plan, gathering and analyzing data, and writing a research report. The chapters in this section will also help industry practitioners apply the principles discussed in their reading of research articles. In Part 2, Hughes and Hayhoe analyze examples of four types of research writing- literature review, quantitative research report, qualitative research report, and report on survey results - employing articles published in Technical Communication, the official journal of the Society for Technical Communication. Written by leading academics and practitioners from the field, these articles are reproduced in full and are presented with commentary on how they relate to the principles of rigorous research.

Author Biography

Dr. Michael A. Hughes is an Associate Fellow with the Society for Technical Communication Dr. George F. Hayhoe is currently professor of technical communication at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia

Table of Contents

Research: Why We Do It and Why We Read It	p. 3
The Research Phases and Getting Started	p. 19
Reviewing the Literature	p. 37
Conducting a Quantitative Study	p. 57
Conducting a Qualitative Study	p. 77
Conducting Surveys	p. 95
Analyzing a Literature Review	p. 109
Analyzing a Quantitative Research Report	p. 129
Analyzing a Qualitative Research Report	p. 155
Analyzing a Report on the Results of a Survey	p. 187
Index	p. 211
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