Designing Usable TextsThomas M. Duffy, Robert W. Waller Designing Usable Texts covers the analysis of textual communication processes in the real world of publishing systems and work sites. The book presents topics on designing and understanding of written texts; authoring, editing, and the production process; and training authors of informative documents. The text also describes the policies and processes of editing; lessons in text design from an instructional design perspective; and graphics and design alternatives such as studying strategies and their implications for textbook design. The identification of information requirements such as understanding readers and their uses of texts, modeling users and their use of technical manuals, is also considered. Psychologists and people involved in communication design, document design, information mapping, and educational technology will find the book invaluable. |
Contents
On the Designing and Understanding of Written Texts | 3 |
Optimal Design of Texts | 11 |
Help or Stumbling Block on the Road | 19 |
Training Authors of Informative Documents | 43 |
Policies and Processes | 63 |
Editorial Policies as House Rules | 69 |
Concluding Comments on Editing Processes and Policies | 92 |
Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach to Text Design | 98 |
Principles of Structured Writing | 194 |
Results of Recent Research | 203 |
Conclusion | 210 |
Job Performance Aid Development | 216 |
Research on Job Performance Aids | 231 |
Summary and Conclusions | 239 |
A Discussion of the Dimensions | 245 |
Understanding Readers and Their Uses of Text | 315 |
ComputerAided Language Analysis | 105 |
References | 111 |
Readability and Prediction | 117 |
Readability and Production | 124 |
Alternatives to Existing Readability Formulas | 133 |
References | 140 |
Preconditions for the Design of Usable Text | 147 |
Managing a Text Design Process | 153 |
Studying Strategies and Their Implications | 159 |
Coherence | 167 |
Conclusion | 175 |
Basic Types of Maps | 185 |
Understanding the Ability of the Reader to Receive and Decode | 322 |
Concepts of Adult Marginal Literates as Learners | 330 |
Summary | 338 |
Modeling Users Reading Comprehension Skills | 346 |
Modeling Performance at the Work Site | 354 |
Modeling Information Processing during Task Performance | 365 |
References | 371 |
A Comparison of Procedures | 377 |
A Methodological Comparison of Two MacroEyeMovement Procedures | 398 |
Author Index | 405 |
Subject Index | 413 |