Building a Better ReadMe
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/stc/tc/1997/00000044/00000001/art00004
  access restricted (by the publisher) to members/subscribers/customers only
  peer-reviewed

Johnson, Mark A.
Technical Communication Online
1997

Abstract:

Surveys and focus groups show that most software buyers use ReadMe files. Users primarily look to ReadMe files for information on software bugs. They identify the following ways that software manufacturers can improve their ReadMe files: 1) keep them short, 2) include a table of contents, 3) use hypertext, and 4) eliminate the need for ReadMe files. Along with these four improvements, this article discusses other ways to create quality ReadMe files that meet concrete user needs.