Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jul 2024

Can Artificial Intelligence Robots Write Effective Instructions?

Johndan Johnson-Eilola Clarkson University ; Stuart A. Selber Pennsylvania State University ; Eric J. York Clarkson University

Abstract

The authors analyze the ability of ChatGPT to generate effective instructions for a consequential task: taking a COVID-19 test. They compare the output from a commercial prompt for generating these instructions to those provided by the test manufacturer. They also analyze the input, the prompt itself, to address prompt-engineering issues. The results show that although the output from ChatGPT exhibits certain conventions for documentation, the human-authored instructions from the manufacturer are superior in most ways. The authors conclude that when it comes to creating high-quality, consequential instructions, ChatGPT might be better seen as a collaborator than a competitor with human technical communicators.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2024-07-01
DOI
10.1177/10506519241239641
Open Access
Closed
Topics
artificial intelligence multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (9)

  1. Getto et al. (2026)
    How to Write With GenAI: A Framework for Using Generative AI to Automate Writin…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Verhulsdonck et al. (2026)
    Expanding Human-in-the-Loop: Critical Sensemaking for Technical and Professiona…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Saeli et al. (2026)
    Parallel Surveys of GenAI and Writing: Students’ Perspectives and Instructors’ …
    Written Communication
  4. Aguilar (2026)
    Increasing Literacy on the Scams Targeting Latines: Generative Artificial Intel…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  5. Aune et al. (2025)
    Anthropomorphizing Artificial Intelligence: A Corpus Study of Mental Verbs Used…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 9 →
  1. Aguilar (2025)
    AI Writing Is Always Embodied: Building a Critical Awareness of the Invisible L…
    College Composition and Communication
  2. Dighton et al. (2025)
    Localizing with GAI in the Archives: Exploring Practitioner Attitudes on Challe…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Jiang et al. (2024)
    From Hype to Practice: Reinterpreting the Writing Process Through Technical Wri…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Pflugfelder et al. (2024)
    Surveillance Work in (and) Teaching Technical Writing with AI
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (2)

  1. Herndl (2017)
    Introduction to the Symposium on Engaged Rhetoric of Science, Technology, Engin…
    Poroi
  2. Selber (2010)
    A Rhetoric of Electronic Instruction Sets
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Also cites 3 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.37514/TPC-B.2023.1923.2.10
     ↗
  2. Felten E., Raj M., Seamans R. (2023). How will language modelers like ChatGPT affect occupations and industri…
     ↗
  3. Wang L., Xu W., Lan Y., Hu Z., Lan Y., Lee R. K. W., Lim E. P. (2023). Plan-and-solve prompting: Improving ze…
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 13 View in citation network →

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