2 research outputs found
Mapping the Information Journey: Unveiling the Documentation Experience of Software Developers in China
This research delves into understanding the behaviors and characteristics of
Chinese developers in relation to their use of technical documentation, which
is crucial for creating high-quality developer documentation. We conducted
interviews with 25 software developers and surveyed 177 participants, using the
preliminary interview findings to inform the survey design. Our approach
encompassed traditional user research methods, including persona and user
journey mapping, to develop typical personas and information journeys based on
the qualitative data from the interviews and quantitative results from the
survey. Our results revealed distinct characteristics and differences between
junior and senior developers in terms of their use of technical documentation,
broadly categorized into personality traits, learning habits, and working
habits. We observed that the information journey of both groups typically
encompasses four stages: Exploration, Understanding, Practice, and Application.
Consequently, we created two distinct personas and information journey maps to
represent these two developer groups. Our findings highlight that developers
prioritize the content, organization, and maintenance aspects of documentation.
In conclusion, we recommend organizing documentation content to align with
developers' information journeys, tailoring documentation to meet the needs of
developers at various levels, and focusing on the content, organization, and
maintenance aspects of documentation.Comment: 27 page
Technical Communication in China:Studies on the User Experience of Technical Documentation
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?<br/