TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: need information on use of indexes From:Katy Wegner <kwegner -at- TARGETSMARTINC -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 9 Jun 1998 16:06:15 -0600
I don't know about studies, but I use the index all the time. I hate that
search feature....
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marsha Finley [SMTP:mmf -at- CADENCE -dot- COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 1998 3:42 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: need information on use of indexes
>
> A small group of misfits in my company, including myself, would like to
> disprove the notion that users of online documentation rarely consult
> indexes.
>
> The party-line (based on rather suspect usability studies) is
> that users prefer to use search. On this basis, our management has
> suggested that we stop devoting valuable time to indexing.
>
> Does anyone know of any studies that show how users find information in
> online documentation? If you could point me to any information of this
> type, I'd be most grateful.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Marsha
>
> --
> Marsha Finley
> Senior Technical Writer
> Cadence Design Systems
> LDV Technical Publications Group
> Chelmsford, MA
> (978) 446-6450
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
> -- Dykstra
> --------------------------------------------
>
> ~
>