Empirical Research in Technical and Professional Communication: A 5-Year Examination of Research Methods and a Call for Research Sustainability. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meloncon, Lisa; St.Amant, Kirk
• Is Part Of: Journal of technical writing & communication. Volume 49:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: empirical research -- sustainability -- research method; Technical writing -- Periodicals; 808.0666
• DOI: 10.1177/0047281618764611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2816

Abstract

This article presents an examination of research methods used in empirical research over a 5-year period in technical and professional communication. This examination reveals that the most common methods used are surveys, interviews, usability tests, observations, and focus groups. In addition, the field does incorporate research categories of case studies, experiments, and ethnographers. This examination, however, reveals serious shortcomings that need to be addressed for the field to have a sustainable research profile.