The Minimal Manual
- 1 June 1987
- journal article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Human–Computer Interaction
- Vol. 3 (2), 123-153
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327051hci0302_2
Abstract
The Minimal Manual was designed to address difficulties people have with state-of-the-art self-instruction manuals in learning to use powerful computing devices. It is briefer; it helps learners to coordinate their attention between the system and the manual; it specifically trains error recognition and recovery; it better supports reference use after training. In two experiments, the Minimal Manual was shown to afford more efficient learning progress than an otherwise comparable, commercially developed self-instruction manual, and was superior in the specific areas predicted by its design.Keywords
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