Technical Communications in Aeronautics: of - NASA

83 Pages·2003·2.4 MB·English

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890017402 2019-01-08T19:05:36+00:00Z
NASA Technical Memorandum 101534, Part 2
Technical Communications in Aeronautics:
Results of an Exploratory Study
Thomas E. Pinelli
Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia
Myron Glassman
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
I
Walter E. Oliu
U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC
Rebecca 0. Barclay
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York
NASA
National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia 23665
Editorial Review Committee
Mary Jo V. Arnold Michael L. Keene, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Patricia Carlson, Ph.D. Judith A. Ramey, Ph.D.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology University of Washington
Maurita P. Holland Rank R. Smith, Ph.D. (retired)
University of Michigan McDonnell Douglas Corporation
Recommended Citation:
Pinelli, Thomas E.; Myron Glassman; Walter E. O h ; and Rebecca 0. Barclay. Technical Communications
in Aeronautics: Results of an Exploratory Study. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. NASA TM-101534, Part 2, February 1989. 84 p. (Available from NTIS, Springfield,
VA.)
CONTENTS
Part 1*
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LISTOFTABLES
V
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION
1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BACKGROUND 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACRONYMS 6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RELATED RESEARCH AND LITERATURE 7
. . . . . .
The Importance of Technical Communications 7
. . . . .
Use and Production of Technical Communications 12
Content for an Undergraduate Course in
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 17
The Use of Libraries, Technical Information Centers,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
and On-Line Databases 19
Use and Importance of Computer and
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information Technology 24
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Discussion 29
. . . . . . . . . .
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE DATA 31
Demographic Information About the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Survey Respondents 33
Survey Objective 1: The Importance of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 38
Survey Objective 2: The Use and Production of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 43
Survey Objective 3: Content for an Undergraduate
. . . . . . . . . . .
Course in Technical Communications 57
Survey Objective 4: Use of Libraries, Technical
. . . . . . .
Information Centers, and On-Line Databases 64
*
Published under separate cover
iii
Survey Objective 5: Use and Importance of
. . . . . . . . . . .
Computer and Information Technology 67
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS 74
Demographic Information About the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Survey Respondents 75
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Limitations of the Study 76
Survey Objective 1: The Importance of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 77
Survey Objective 2: The Use and Production of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 79
Survey Objective 3: Content for an Undergraduate
. . . . . . . . . . .
Course in Technical Communications 83
Survey Objective 4: Use of Libraries, Technical
. . . . . . .
Information Centers, and On-Line Databases 86
Survey Objective 5: Use and Importance of
. . . . . . . . . . .
Computer and Information Technology 88
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BIBLIOGRAPHY 92
APPENDICES
Part 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A. SURVEY INSTRUMENT. 97
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. AGGREGATE TOTALS 103
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. CROSS TABULATIONS -- PART A 109
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. CROSS TABULATIONS -- PART B 131
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D. OPEN-ENDED COMMENTS 169
iv
LIST OF TABLES
Table
A Non-Use, Use, and Potential Usefulness of
Computer and Information Technology by
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Engineering Disciplines 27
. . . . . . . . .
B Summary: Professional Duties 34
. . . . . . . . .
C Summary: Type of Organization 34
D Summary: Years of Professional Work Experience 35
. . . . . . . . .
E Summary: AIAA Interest Group 36
. . . . . . . . . .
F Summary: Level of Education 36
. . . . . . . .
G Summary: Engineer or Scientist 37
H Summary: American English is First
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Native) Language 37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I Summary: Gender 38
J Summary: Importance of Technical Commun cat m s 39
K Summary: Hours Spent Per Week Communicating
. . . . . . . .
Technical Information to Others 40
L Summary: Hours Spent Per Week Working With
. . .
Technical Information Received From Others 41
--
M Summary: Professional Advancement Amount
of Time Spent Communicating Technical
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Information to Others 42
--
N Summary: Professional Advancement Amount
of Time Spent Working With Technical
. . . . . .
Communications Received From Others 43
0 Summary: Technical Information Product
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Production 44
P Comparison of the Average Number of Technical
Information Products Used by Organizational
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Affiliation 45
V
. .
Q Summary: Technical Information Product Use 46
R Comparison of the Average Number of Technical
Information Products Produced by Organizational
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Affiliation 48
S Summary: Technical Information Production --
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sources of Help 48
. . . . . . .
--
T Summary: Artwork How Produced 49
U Summary: Types of Technical Information Produced
. . . . . . . . .
in Performance of Present Duties 50
V Comparison of the Types of Technical Information
. . . . .
Produced by Organizational Affiliation 51
W Summary: Types of Technical Information
. . . . . . . . .
Used to Perform Present Duties 52
X Comparison of the Types of Technical Information
. . . . . . .
Used by Organizational Affiliation 53
--
Y Summary: Solving a Technical Problem Source of
. . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Information Used 55
Z Summary: Technical Communications/Writing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coursework Taken 58
AA Summary: Technical Communications/Writing
-- . . . . . . . . . . .
Coursework How Helpful 58
BB Summary: Topics for an Undergraduate Technical
Communications Course for Aeronautical Engineers
. . . . . . . . . .
and Scientists -- Principles 59
cc Summary: Topics for an Undergraduate Technical
Communications Course For Aeronautical Engineers
. . . . . . . . . .
and Scientists -- Mechanics 60
DD Summary: Topics for an Undergraduate Technical
Communications Course for Aeronautical Engineers
. .
and Scientists -- On-the-Job Communications 61
EE Summary: Topics for an Undergraduate Technical
Communications Course for Aeronautical Engineers
. .
and Scientists -- Types of Technical Reports 62
vi
FF Summary: Use of Library or Technical
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Information Center 65
. . . . .
GG Summary: Use of Electronic Databases 66
HH Summary: Use of Electronic Databases --
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Searched 66
I1 Summary: Use of Computer Technology for
. . . . . . .
Preparing Technical Communications 67
--
JJ Summary: Computer Technology Increase Ability
. . . . . .
to Communicate Technical Information 68
KK Summary: Use of Software to Prepare Written
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 68
LL Summary: Use of an Integrated Graphics, Text,
and Modeling Engineering Workstation for
. . .
Preparing Written Technical Communications 69
MM Summary: Use of Electronic or Desk-Top
Publishing System for Preparing Written
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Communications 70
NN Summary: Use, Non-Use, and Potential Use
of Information Technologies to Communicate
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
I Technical Information 71
vii
APPENDIX A
SURVEY INSTRUMENT
I ! I I
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS IN AERONAUTICS
1. In your work, how important is it for YOU to communicate technical information effectively? Col
Very Important Somewhat Important .~ Not at all Important
~ I ~ 2 3
2. How many hours do YOUspend each week communicating technical information TO others? Hours 67
3. How many hours do YOUspend each week working with technical communications FROMothers? Hours x9
4. As you have advanced professionally, how has the amount of time YOUspend communicating technical information
TO OTHERS changed?
Increased Stayed the Same Decreased
IO
~ ~ ~
I 1 I
5. As you have advanced professionally, how has the amount of time YOU spend working with technical communications
received FROM OTHERS changed?
Increased Stayed the Same Decreased II
~ I ~ 2 ~ I
6. Approximately how many times in the past six months did you write/prepare:
Letters times in the Journal articles 12-
~ past 6 months ~ 53
Memos Conference/Meeting papers
~
Technical reports-Government Trade/Promotional literature
~
Technical reports-other Press releases
~
Proposals Drawings/Specifications
~
Technical manuals Speeches
~
Computer program documentation Audio/Visual materials
~
7. How many times in the past one month did you use materials written/prepared by other people?
Letters __ # read/used Journal articles
in past 1 month
Memos ConferenceIMeeting papers
~
Technical reports-Government Trade/Promotional literature
~
Technical reports-Other Drawings/Specifications
~
Proposals Audio/Visual materials
~
Technical Manuals
~
Computer program documentation __
8. When you write/prepare technical communications, do you receive help from:
Always Usually Sometimes Never 90-
95
Other colleagues
Secretaries
Technical writers or editors
A thesauruddictionary
A style manual
A grammar hotline
I 2 I 4
97
APPENDIX A
9. Which of the following statements BESTrepresents how the artwork for YOUR visual aids (charts,g raphs) is
prepared? (Check Only One)
I ~ I do my own artwork without a computer 96
2 I do my own artwork with a computer
~
The graphics department does my artwork
J ~
Sometimes I do it and sometimes the graphics department does it
I ~
5 __ A secretary does it
The artwork is prepared elsewhere
6
~
10. Have you ever taken a course(s)i n technical communications/writing?
Yes, as an Yes, after Yes, both No (Skip to Q. 12) 97
~ 1 Undergraduate ~ graduation ~ J ~ 4
11. How well did this course help YOUcommunicate technical information?
-A Lot A Little -_ Did not Help 98
I ~ I
12. In your opinion, which of the following topics should be included in an undergraduate technical communications
course for aeronautical engineers and scientists?
Principles Yes No Mechanics
Defining the communication’s purpose Abbreviations 99-
Assessing readers’ needs ~ ~ Acronyms 116
Organizing information Capitalization
Developing paragraphs (introductions, Numbers
transitions, and conclusions) Punctuation
Writin sentences (active vs. passive voice, References
paraflel ideas, shifts in person or tense)
Spelling
Using standard English grammar
Symbols
Notetaking and quoting
I 2
Editing and revising
Choosing words (avoiding wordiness, jargon, slang,
sexist terms)
Using information technology (video conferencing,
~ I ~ 1 electronic data bases, etc.)
13. Which of the following on-the-jobc ommunications should be included in an undergraduate technical
communications course for aeronautical engineers and scientists?
Yes No Yes Reports:
Abstracts Feasibility 117-
Letters Investigative 134
Memos Laboratory
Instructions Progress
Journal articles Test
Literature reviews
Manuals Trouble
Newsletter articles I
Oral presentations
Specifications
Use of information sources
I 2
14. Do YOU use computer technology to prepare technical communications?
Always Usually Sometimes Never (Skip to Q. 19) 135
~ ~ ~ ~
1 1 1 4
15. Has computer technology increased YOUR ability to communicate technical information?
A Lot A Little Not at All 136
~ I ~ I ~ 7
98
APPENDIX A
16. Do YOU use any of the following software for preparing written technical communications?
Yes No Yes No
~ __ Wordprocessing ~ ~ Thesaurus 113473-
Outliners and prompters Business graphics
~ ~ ~ ~
- Grammar and style checkers Scientific graphics
~ ~ 1 ~ 2
__ Spelling checkers
~ I 2
17. Do YOU use an integrated graphics, text, and modeling engineering workstation for preparing written technical
communications?
Always Usually Sometimes __ Never 144
~ I ~ 2 ~ 1 4
18. Do YOU use electronic or desk-top publishing systems for preparing written technical communications?
Always Usually Sometimes Never 145
~ I ~ 2 ~ i ~ 4
19. How do YOU view your use of the following information technologies in communicating technical information?
I don’t use Z don’t use it,
I already it, but may and doubt if
Information Technologies use it in the future I will
Audio tapes and cassettes 146-
160
Motion picture film
Video tape
Desk-top/electronic publishing
Floppy disks
Computer cassette/cartridge tapes
Electronic mail
Electronic bulletin boards
FAX or TELEX
Electronic data bases
Video conferencing
Teleconferencing
Micrographics and microforms
Laser dischide0 disc/CD-ROM
Electronic networks
3
20. When faced with solving a technical problem, do you get technical information from:
Always Usually Sometimes Never
-
Personal knowledge 161-
172
Informal discussions with colleagues
Discussions with supervisors
Discussions with experts in your organization
Discussions with experts outside of your organization
Technical reports-Government
Technical reports-Other
Professional journals/conference meeting papers
Textbooks
Handbooks and standards
Technical information sources, such as on-line data
bases, indexing and abstracting guides,
CD-ROM, and current awareness tools
Librariandtechnical information specialists __ __
3 4
99