The role and design of screen images in software documentation

Abstract

Software documentation for the novice user typically must try to achieve at least three goals: to support basic knowledge and skills development; to prevent or support the handling of mistakes, and to support the joint handling of manual, input device and screen. This paper concentrates on the latter goal. Novice users often experience split‐attention problem due to the need to (almost) simultaneously attend to different media. Existing research indicates that split‐attention problems can be prevented or reduced by the presence of screen images in the manual. Research is yet unclear about the optimal design of these pictures. This study examines three design styles. Forty‐eight novice users received one of the three manual based on these styles. The manuals were an introduction to Windows 95. The users of the most successful manual needed 25% less training time and had a 60% better retention. The most important characteristics of the design style of this manual were its use of full screen images (instead of partial ones) and a two‐column lay‐out in which the instructions and screen images were presented side‐by‐side in a left‐to‐right reading order. The discussion focuses on the tension that exists between theory and practice. Special attention is given to the contributions of a taxonomy of screen images and cognitive load theory.

Designing for user cognition and affect in software instructions

“…For example, Carroll, Smith-Kerker, Ford, and Mazur-Rimetz (1987) report statistically significant differences favoring users of a minimal manual over a control manual with a 40% reduction of training time and 50% more basic tasks completed successfully after training. Similar effects have been reported by other researchers (e.g., Lazonder & Van der Meij, 1993;Ramsay & Oatley, 1992;Van der Meij, 1992; see also Van der Meij, 2003).…”

A formative analysis of how preservice teachers learn to use technology

“…Manuals that contain ample error information (minimal manuals) help students perform better than manuals with limited error information (Carroll 1990; Lazonder 1994; Lazonder & Van der Meij 1995; Van der Meij & Carroll 1995). Van der Meij (2000) adds that the most successful format of a manual is a two‐column layout with instructions and full‐screen images presented side by side.…”

Cases as Minimalist Information

“…Thus, the information should be coordinated with action to every extent possible (for example, designing manuals to present instructions and full screen-shots of the resulting system states side by side and in a left-to-right reading order; van der Meij, 2000), and when coordination is not feasible, the information should be designed to be robust vis-a-vis miscoordination (for example, graying out contextually inappropriate functions in a menu).…”