Content Analysis as a Best Practice in Technical Communication Research    

Content analysis is a powerful empirical method for analyzing text, a method that technical communicators can use on the job and in their research. Content analysis can expose hidden connections among concepts, reveal relationships among ideas that initially seem unconnected, and inform the decision-making processes associated with many technical communication practices. In this article, we explain the basics of content analysis methodology and dispel common misconceptions, report on a content analysis case study, reveal the most important objectives associated with conducting high quality content analyses, and summarize the implications of content analysis as a tool for technical communicators and researchers.

Thayer, Alexander, Mary Evans, Alicia McBride, Matt Queen and Jan Spyridakis. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2007). Articles>TC>Assessment

Defining Technical Communication: Is It a Goal or a Sisyphean Task?

Defining the field of technical communication is a potentially impossible task. In some respects, the process of defining this profession is similar to Sisyphus' eternally futile task: Just as one theory is proposed within the technical communication discourse community, another article is published and the previous theory suddenly collapses. Unlike Sisyphus, however, the members of the discourse community should be able to successfully create a definition of the field based upon the best ideas from previous theories and writings.

Thayer, Alexander. Orange Journal, The (2002). Articles>TC>Theory

Localization of Digital Games: The Process of Blending for the Global Games Market  

The process of localizing digital games can be significantly different from the process of localizing productivity software.

Thayer, Alexander and Beth E. Kolko. Sakson and Taylor (2004). Articles>User Interface>Localization