Why Do Scholars Use PowerPoint the Way They Do?

Brigitte Hertz Wageningen University & Research ; Cees van Woerkum Wageningen University & Research ; Peter Kerkhof

Abstract

PowerPoint has received much criticism regarding excessive use of text and the lack of contact with the audience. Why presenters use PowerPoint in this way has not been studied so far. Our study using interviews with beginning and advanced presenters shows that some use the program as a speaking note and as a means to draw the attention away from themselves. Some even think that PowerPoint can replace rhetorical skills. Slides are mainly designed on the basis of commonsense, instead of guidelines based on human information processing. Implications for the teaching of PowerPoint use in business communication are discussed.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2015-09-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490615589171
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly

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