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
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication artificial intelligence
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (13)

  1. Nadra et al. (2026)
    Is genAI a good editor of academic writing?
    Computers and Composition
  2. Mallette et al. (2026)
    Preparing to Edit Ethically with and for AI Contexts
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  3. Jablonski et al. (2026)
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  4. Getto et al. (2026)
    How to Write With GenAI: A Framework for Using Generative AI to Automate Writin…
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  5. Verhulsdonck et al. (2026)
    Expanding Human-in-the-Loop: Critical Sensemaking for Technical and Professiona…
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  1. Saeli et al. (2026)
    Parallel Surveys of GenAI and Writing: Students’ Perspectives and Instructors’ …
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  2. Aguilar (2026)
    Increasing Literacy on the Scams Targeting Latines: Generative Artificial Intel…
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  3. Lambrecht (2025)
    “What People Are Saying” About Extreme Weather: A Comparison of Public Commenta…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. Aune et al. (2025)
    Anthropomorphizing Artificial Intelligence: A Corpus Study of Mental Verbs Used…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Aguilar (2025)
    AI Writing Is Always Embodied: Building a Critical Awareness of the Invisible L…
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  6. Dighton et al. (2025)
    Localizing with GAI in the Archives: Exploring Practitioner Attitudes on Challe…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  7. Jiang et al. (2024)
    From Hype to Practice: Reinterpreting the Writing Process Through Technical Wri…
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  8. Pflugfelder et al. (2024)
    Surveillance Work in (and) Teaching Technical Writing with AI
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

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CrossRef global citation count: 16 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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