User preferences of software documentation genres
Ralph H. Earle, Mark A. Rosso, Kathryn E. Alexander · 2015
Today's technical software users find a wide variety of content online, from videos to forum posts to online articles. This study examines the extent to which the genre of this content matters to the users searching for it. It presents the findings of a new exploratory study that addresses the significance of genre preferences to the users, given that genre is secondary to their actual business goals. It looks at documentation users' usage of, and attitudes towards, documentation genres, and how factors such as work role and past experience come into play. Our conclusions can help individuals who formulate content strategies to understand the extent and strength of genre usage. This in turn can help them determine a strategic mix of documentation genres.