Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jan 2025

Methodologies for Studying Artificial Intelligence in Technical and Professional Communication

Christine Masters-Wheeler Francis Marion University ; Jennifer Bay Purdue University West Lafayette

Abstract

This article focuses on the unique ways that technical and professional communication (TPC) researchers can study artificial intelligence (AI) models that challenge the idea that humans and machines are separate yet equal entities. The authors present a brief definition of AI, a recap of HCI research paradigms, and a description of how AI models challenge traditional HCI research and how TPC researchers might respond to these challenges in their studies. Rather than presenting clear-cut methods for studying AI, the article highlights questions that researchers need to consider as they develop approaches for studying AI.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
10.1177/10506519241280647
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
professional writing artificial intelligence
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Jiang et al. (2025)
    Augmenting User Experience Design with Multimodal Generative Artificial Intelli…
    Technical Communication Quarterly

References (36) · 3 in this index

  1. Algorithmic Justice League (2023). Home . https://www.ajl.org/
  2. All Tech Is Human (2023). Responsible Tech Guide . https://alltec…
  3. 10.1145/3290605.3300233
     ↗
  4. Bender E. M., Gebru T., McMillan-Major A., Shmitchell S. (2021, March). On the dangers of stochastic parrots:…
     ↗
  5. Benjamin J. J., Berger A., Merrill N., Pierce J. (2021). Machine learning uncertainty as a design material: A…
     ↗
Show all 36 →
  1. Buolamwini J. (2023)
    Unmasking AI: My mission to protect what is human in a world of machines
  2. 10.7330/9781646421084.c005
     ↗
  3. Data for Black Lives (n.d.). Home. https://d4bl.org/
  4. 10.1080/07370024.2020.1744146
     ↗
  5. 10.4324/9781003288008
     ↗
  6. Filimowicz M. (2018)
    New Directions in third wave human–computer interaction: Volume 2–methodologies
  7. Graham et al. (2022)
    AI for Social Justice: New Methodological Horizons in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  8. 10.7330/9781646421084.c006
     ↗
  9. Harrison S.
    The three paradigms of HCI [Conference session]
  10. 10.55177/tc148396
     ↗
  11. 10.1111/1467-9655.12541
     ↗
  12. Jones et al. (2016)
    Disrupting the Past to Disrupt the Future: An Antenarrative of Technical Commun…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  13. Lawton G. (2024, July 23). Generative AI ethics: 8 biggest concerns and risks …
  14. Lazar J. (2017)
    Research methods in human-computer interaction
  15. 10.1007/978-3-031-02904-2_4
     ↗
  16. 10.4324/9781315197692
     ↗
  17. McKee H. A., Porter J. E. (2022, July). Team roles & rhetorical intelligence in human-machine writing. …
     ↗
  18. Mckoy T.
    CCCC Black technical and professional communication position statement with resource guide
  19. McNely et al. (2015)
    Contemporary Research Methodologies in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  20. Norman D. (2014)
    Things that make us smart: Defending human attributes in the age of the machine
  21. Ranade N. (2021)
    Technical Communication
  22. 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2021.102630
     ↗
  23. Reid A. (2022)
    Rhetorics of the digital nonhumanities
  24. 10.7330/9781646421084.c004
     ↗
  25. 10.1145/267505.267514
     ↗
  26. 10.7551/mitpress/6875.001.0001
     ↗
  27. 10.7330/9781646421084
     ↗
  28. 10.31855/bc47ee6b-75c
     ↗
  29. Yates J. (1989)
    Control through communications
  30. Zheng Q., Tang Y., Liu Y., Liu W., Huang Y. (2022, April). UX Research on conversational human-AI interaction…
     ↗
  31. Zhou M. X.
    Joint Proceedings of the ACM IUI 2019 Work- shops, Los Angeles, United States
CrossRef global citation count: 2 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Computers and Composition Jun 2026
    “Article laundry” or “tutor in pocket?”: Multilingual writers’ generative AI-assisted writing in professional settings ↗
    Qianqian Zhang-Wu
    writing pedagogy teacher development professional writing qualitative research digital rhetoric artificial intelligence multilingual writers
  2. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Apr 2026
    Selections From the ABC 2025 Annual International Conference, Long Beach, California, USA: Classroom Activities for Teaching Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Social Media Skills in the Business Communication Classroom ↗
    Andrew Cavanaugh; D. Joel Whalen
    teacher development professional writing social media artificial intelligence
  3. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Feb 2026
    Feedback-Only AI for Writing Instruction: A Constrained-Generative Tool That Preserves Authorship ↗
    Heidi Schultz
    rhetorical criticism writing pedagogy revision professional writing artificial intelligence literacy studies
  4. Journal of Writing Research Feb 2026
    Empirical studies of writing and generative AI: Introduction to the special issue ↗
    Chris Anson; Kirsti Cole
    assessment professional writing artificial intelligence
  5. Journal of Writing Research Feb 2026
    Can ChatGPT do the same? ChatGPT and professional editors compared ↗
    Daniël Janssen; Henri Raven; Lisanne Van Weelden; Yohannes Den Hertog
    writing pedagogy argument collaborative writing professional writing quantitative research artificial intelligence