The Zen of Minimalism: Designing a Top-of-Class Manual for Beginners and Advanced Users
http://www.cyberus.ca/%7Ecarls/cs_si98p.htm

Stieren, Carl
Simware
1998

Abstract:

Can using minimalist documentation improve accuracy and learning speed for beginners as well as for advanced users? I tested this question using Microsoft Access for Windows 95 ® and three different third-party manuals explaining this product. Then I set up three main tasks for the user in a usability test. For each task, I provided the task description in blue type, and then copied the appropriate documentation in black. Documentation for each of the three tasks was reprinted from a different book.