COST Project – information on researches and researchers Name Surname: Joyce Karreman
Grade PhD (dr.)
Function Assistant Professor
Responsibility (laboratory, team, network management, etc.)
Department of Technical and Professional Communication, University of Twente (Research and Teaching)
Research team Eursafety Health-Net, embedded in the Department of Psychology and Communication of Health and Risk (Research)
Full address of your laboratory or your department (including web address) University of Twente
Faculty of Behavioural Sciences
Department of Technical and Professional Communication PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
Web site: www.gw.utwente.nl/tpc/en Long title of your research theme
The design and evaluation of usable complex documents (instructions, governmental websites, health information websites), with a strong emphasis on textual information Short title (like a running head)
Improving the usability of complex documents 4 key-words abstracting your research theme Information seeking
Instructions Usability
User Centered Design
4 key-words describing your research field (psychology, educational, linguistic, text-design, etc.)
Text design Linguistics
Technical communication
15 lines : Presenting your research theme (at individual and/or team level : aim, method, result, perspective),
The research theme of the Department of Technical and Professional Communication is the production, use and evaluation of (paper and digital) documents in an organizational context. The research theme of the Eursafety Health-Net research team is to design and evaluate a
complex information about infectuous diseases that can be used by several target groups. In both groups, special attention is paid to the development of new, valid methods for research in practical, natural settings.
Several qualitative methods are applied, such as content analysis, conversation analysis and text linguistics. In addition, experimental research is conducted to investigate effects of text characteristics. Dependent variables include performance indicators (errors, time), self report (questionnaires), and process variables (obtained with observation and think-aloud protocols). My personal research interests are: the design, use and evaluation of textual information in complex (paper and digital) documents.
2 lines : Do you try to solve a problem/a question, and if, what kind of problem/question ? The main problem is that many users have problems when interacting with complex information. Well-designed information contributes to solving problems that users have related to finding the information, comprehending the information, accepting the information and using the information to achieve their goal (filling out a form on a web site, for example). 3 lines : The main discovery/advance of your research program (regarding the question and/or the problem)
Practical advice for designers, useful basic knowledge for research aimed to develop useful information, useful knowledge about the pros and cons of User Centered Design.
3 lines : Short and long term consequences/attempts from your research ?
The results of the research are applied in teaching students and professionals in the field of (Technical) Communication, in advising governmental organizations and companies that aim to improve their web sites and/or their user support, and in the development of health
information websites (especially the to be developed Eursafety Health-Net website) Your main publications in the theme (last 5 years) – please distinguish the four categories
- journal with peer review - chapter – book edition - monography
- licence, brevet
Peer reviewed journal publications
Verhoeven, F., Karreman, J., Bosma, A., Hendrix, R., & Van Gemert-Pijnen, L. (2010). Toward improved education of the public about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Mental Models Approach. International Journal of Infection Control, 6 (1).
Ter Brake, C., Karreman, J., de Jong, M. (2010). Effecten van positief geladen informatie en geografische nabijheid in de corporate communicatie van een waterschap. Tijdschrift voor Taalbeheersing, 32 (3), 228-241.
Van der Meij, H., Karreman, J., & Steehouder, M. (2009). Three decades of research and professional practice on printed software tutorials for novices. Technical Communication, 56 (3), 265-292.
Van der Meij, H., Karreman, J. & Steehouder, M. (2008). Drie decennia
computerhandleidingen voor beginners [Thee decades of computer manuatls for novices]. Tijdschrift voor taalbeheersing 30 (3), 268-287.
Loorbach, N. R., Karreman, J. & Steehouder, M. (2007). Adding motivational elements to an instruction manual for seniors: effects on usability and motivation. Technical Communication, 54 (3), 343-358.
Karreman, J., Van der Geest, Th., & Buursink, E. (2007). Accessible website content
guidelines for users with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20, 510-518.
Klaassen, Rob, Karreman, Joyce, & Geest, Thea van der (2006). Designing government portal navigation around citizens' needs. Lecture notes in computer science, 4084, 162-173.
Book chapters
Steehouder, M. (2008). [Procedural instructions]. in: Bart, P. van & Steehouder, M. (red., 2008). Basisboek Technische Communicatie [Basics of technical communication]. Assen: Van Gorcum.
Karreman, J. & Steehouder, M.F. (2008). Functionele analyse [Functional Analysis]. In P.J. Schellens and M.F. Steehouder (Eds.), Tekstanalyse: Methoden en toepassingen (pp.4-37). Assen: Van Gorcum BV
Hustinx, L. & Karreman, J. (2008). Coherentieanalyse [Analysis of Coherence]. In P.J. Schellens and M.F. Steehouder (Eds.) Tekstanalyse: Methoden en toepassingen (pp. 38-80). Assen: Van Gorcum BV
Conference papers
Wentzel, M.J., Karreman, J., & Van Gemert-Pijnen, J. (accepted, 2011). Towards an internet-based infectious disease management platform to increase patient safety. E-Telemed, The Third International Conference on eHealth, Telemedicine, and Social Medicine February 23-28, 2011 - Gosier, Guadeloupe, France.
Karreman, J., Arendsen, R., & Van der Geest (2010). Navigating on Web sites: Exploring the life events approach. IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, July 2010, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Loorbach, N., Karreman, J., & Steehouder, M. (2009). Boosting seniors’ confidence by enhancing user instructions. IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, July 2009, Hawaii, USA
Reddig, D., Karreman, J., & Van der Geest, T. (2008) Watch Out for the Preview: An
experimental investigation about the relation of feedback and usability. IPCC conference, July 2008, Montreal, Canada
Karreman, J. (2008). Optimising Digital User Instructions. Spring Conference of the Finnish Technical Communication Society, May 12, Tampere, Finland
Douglass, C., Farkas, D., Steehouder, M., Karreman, J., Kieras, D. et al. (2008) The New Face of Procedural Content: A Real World Approach. CHI Conference, April 5-10, Florence, Italy.
Evers, M., Theune, M., & Karreman J. (2007). The influence of speaker orientattion on effectiveness and naturalness of route descriptions in virtual way finding. The 7th
International Workshop on Gesture in Human-Computer Interaction and Simulation 2007, 23-24-25 May, Lissabon.
Karreman, J & Loorbach, N. (2007). Paragraphs or lists? The effects of text structure on web sites. IPCC conference, October 2007, Seattle
Loorbach, N., Karreman, J., & Steehouder, M. (2007). The effects of adding motivational elements to instructive texts. IPCC conference, October 2007, Seattle
Loorbach, N., Karreman, J., & steehouder, M. (2006) Motivational
elements in user instructions: effects on user satisfaction. Proceedings of the STC’s (Society for Technical Communication) 53rd Annual Conference, 261-265.
Klaassen, R., Karreman, J., & Van der Geest, Th. (2006, september 01). Designing government portal navigation around citizens' needs. Krakau (Polen), E-Gov conference.
From your point of view, what are the 5 more important publications in your field (except your own publication) that is to say, publications that you frequently quote and use ? (please insert the full reference)
Elling, S., L. Lentz, & M. de Jong. Website Evaluation Questionnaire: Development of a research-based tool for evaluating informational websites. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 4656: 293-304, 2007.
Farkas, D. K. (1999). The logical and rhetorical construction of procedural discourse. Technical communication, 46(1), 42-54.
Maguire, M. (2001). Methods to support User Centred Design. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55(4), 587-634.
Schriver, K. A. (1997). Dynamics in document design. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Van der Meij, H., Blijleven, P., & Jansen, L. (2003). What makes up a procedure? In M. J. Albers & B. Mazur (Eds.), Content & Complexity. Information design in software
development and documentation (pp. 129-186). Mahwah NJ: Erlbaum. List the grants and funds obtained the last 5 years for your research program
Several governmental organizations funded our research about the use of governmental websites (for example, the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration funded our research about the usability of a “Life Events” approach on their website).
List the number of (pre and post) PhD students who are currently in your lab, working on your theme
Nicole Loorbach (motivating elements in instructions for use) Mark Evers (Use of instructions at the workplace)
Marieke Welle Donker (Expert evaluation of municipal websites) Jobke Wentzel (Eursafety health-Net)
Maarten van Limburg (Eursafety health-Net)
Give the number of PhD students trained in your lab on your theme (last 5 years): Mark Melenhorst (graduated 2006)
Fenne Verhoeven (graduated 2009)
Lex van Velsen (will graduate february 2011)
5 lines : Interest of your research for the society? Actually in the European context ?
The importance of adequate user support is recognised by the European Council Resolution of 17 December 1998 on operating instructions for technical consumer goods which states explicitly that “the protection of economic interests requires that consumers of technical goods have access to adequate user information to ensure proper and complete use of the product.”
The importance of trustworthy, well-organised, and usable health information on the internet is recognised by the society, especially by Euregio.
From your point of view, what is the main questions the writing community must faced at the European level ?
Challenges for the next years:
Understanding the use of other channels that traditional paper of online documentations (e.g. helpdesks, informal instructions in the workplace, internet fora)
Developing personalized, task-specific instructions with HMI-technology, and investigating their usefulness for task performance and learning.
Understanding the process of reading and using complex documents, including visuals, especially with “literate” users (most of the current research and theories are focused on novices or beginning users)
Developing evaluation methods for complex documents on the internet
List your effective collaborations with others European and International researchers,
specifying the nature of collaboration (theme, experiment, data analysis, co-publication, etc.). Give the full references of co-publications.
Europe
Several German researchers in the field of health care and e-health (No co-publications yet) Hans van der Meij (University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands)
Van der Meij, H., Karreman, J., & Steehouder, M. (2009). Three decades of research and professional practice on printed software tutorials for novices. Technical
Communication, 56 (3), 265-292.
Mariet Theune (University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands) )
Evers, M., Theune, M., & Karreman J. (2007). The influence of speaker orientattion on effectiveness and naturalness of route descriptions in virtual way finding. The 7th
International Workshop on Gesture in Human-Computer Interaction and Simulation 2007, 23-24-25 May, Lissabon.
Peter Jan Schellens and Lettica Hustinx (Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands) Karreman, J. & Steehouder, M.F. (2008). Functionele analyse [Functional Analysis]. In P.J. Schellens and M.F. Steehouder (Eds.), Tekstanalyse: Methoden en toepassingen (pp.4-37). Assen: Van Gorcum BV
Hustinx, L. & Karreman, J. (2008). Coherentieanalyse [Analysis of Coherence]. In P.J. Schellens and M.F. Steehouder (Eds.) Tekstanalyse: Methoden en toepassingen (pp. 38-80). Assen: Van Gorcum BV
United States
David Farkas (Department of Technical Communication, University of Washington, Seattle) Douglass, C., Farkas, D., Steehouder, M., Karreman, J., Kieras, D. et al. (2008) The New Face of Procedural Content: A Real World Approach. CHI Conference, April 5-10, Florence, Italy.
