I just came across an interesting article from the Journal of Business and Technical Communication, a great resource for people interested in digital literacy, information design and the social practices surrounding these fields.
Rude, C. D. (2009). Mapping the research questions in technical communication. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 23(2), 174-215.
‘How do texts (print, digital, multimedia; visual, verbal) and related communication practices mediate knowledge, values, and action in a variety of social and professional contexts?’ (181)
‘Although the central question emphasizes texts, researchers seldom examine only the text. Texts are interesting as they are used within activity systems. The phrase related communication practices recognizes that the text itself exists in an activity system—situation analysis, development, production, and circulation—all of which involve communication. Practices include interactions (meetings, collaboration, negotiation) research (audience analysis, interviews, analysis of technical support data, site visits), translation and localization, review (editing, expert review, usability testing), visual design and production, and circulation (content management, search systems, publication and other distribution). The use and development of tools to enable these processes are also related communication practices.’ (181)
