Conducting Research in Technical Communication: The Application of True Experimental Designs

<p>An increasing number of technical communicators are making document or screen-design decisions that they would like to test empirically. However, many have not been trained in research design and statistics. This paper explains the use of true experimental designs in technical communication research. Major steps in the research process are discussed in detail: • Identifying and defining a problem • Reviewing relevant literature • Formulating hypotheses • Defining variables • Constructing a research design • Selecting subjects • Creating experimental materials • Collecting and analyzing data, and • Arriving at conclusions based on the empirical work. From this discussion, readers should be able to read research studies critically and, if desired, design empirical studies after further reading in texts on research design and statistics.</p>