Authors of technical documents typically do not have the time or space to belabor well-known points or common-sense data because readers do not need to read page upon page of something they already know or something that can be proved in a sentence of two. On a smaller scale, if one way of presenting evidence requires some manipulation of data but seems to be the only way of keeping sales strong enough for your company to survive, what should you do? . Liability and contractlaws can vary by country. Most ethics violations in technical writing are (probably) unintentional, BUT they are still ethics violations.
This chapter was written by Annemarie Hamlin, Chris Rubio, and Michele DeSilva, Central Oregon Community College, and is licensed. WebAn example of a guidance policy may be to contact a supervisor when in doubt. You collect a handful of sources that support the groups goal, but then you discover medical evidence that indicates vaccines do more good than potential harm in society. Collecting information from multiple brokers would demonstrate thorough and unbiased research. Technical Writing, by Allison Gross, Annamarie Hamlin, Billy Merck, Chris Rubio, Jodi Naas, Megan Savage and Michele DiSilva, licensed CC-BY-NC-SA.
1). Using a large section of your report to prove an already established principle implies that you are saying something new about the principlewhich is not true. (See chapter 10 for more on research.). Most ethics violations in technical writing are (probably) unintentional, but they are still ethics violations. Unlike personal or academic writing, technical and professional writing can be used to evaluate your job performance and can have implications that a writer may or may not have considered. What does this treatment of space add to the work? Since people usually have different ethical values, your own stance may not coincide with everyone elses. Good question. If you would go to prison, lose your friends, lose your job, or even just feel really embarrassed, the action is probably unethical. 13. The National Whistle Blower center is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that has many resources available for individuals who may be faced with the difficult situation of doing the right thing (https://www.whistleblowers.org/index.php). In a far more serious situation, a person might not risk their lives to help a stranger, but they might risk their lives to help a close friend or relative. You probably think about technical writing in relation to communicating technical information clearly in an accessible format that meets the needs of its audience. Patents and trademarksare company names (WalMart), logos (the Target bullseye), processes or slogans (McDonalds Im lovin it) that belong to a person or company. Research shows bringing in an outside expert, someone who is unfamiliar with the company Our experts can deliver a Technical Writing Ethics essay. Often in technical writing, the underlying principle is already well-documented (maybe even common knowledge for your audience) and the point SHOULD be to use that underlying principle to propose a specific application. This chapter was written by Annemarie Hamlin, Chris Rubio, and Michele DeSilva, Central Oregon Community College, and is licensed CC-BY 4.0. If you were writing a report on the real estate market in Central Oregon, you would not collect data from only one brokers office even if this office might have access to broader data on the real estate market because utilizing only one source may create the assumption that you are biased. Most ethics violations in technical writing may well be unintentional, but they are still ethics violations. 2023 Central New Mexico Community College, by Allison Gross, Annemarie Hamlin, Billy Merck, Chris Rubio, Jodi Naas, Megan Savage, and Michele DeSilva is licensed under, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, A classic example of unethical technical writing is the memo report NASA engineers wrote about the problem with O ring seals on the space shuttle Challenger (see, The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: A Study in Organizational Ethics. Contract Lawis an agreement between two entities. If you click on the Tools button, you have the option of filtering results by how they are licensed. In his book Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach, Paul Anderson reviews threeways that you can bring your companys practices to the surface. Visuals can be useful for communicating data and information efficiently for a reader. These are among the reasons certain documents are carefully reviewed before being sent to their intended readers.
You struggle with whether to leave this information out of your report, thereby encouraging your employer to pursue and action that is really not feasible. A proposal is a persuasive technical writing document; it must convince the reader that the proposal idea
The audience may find out too late that what you wrote only benefited you and actually hurt them. Ethics principles can provide a basis for deciding whether a situation is ethical but, in reality, ethical issues are complicated. If you were writing a report on the real estate market in Central Oregon, you would not collect data from only one brokers office. Therefore, the original owner of the material is denied a profit due to your actions. Credibility can be established through many means: using appropriate professional language, citing highly respected sources, providing reliable evidence, and using sound logic. )%2F09%253A_Ethics_in_Technical_Writing%2F09.3%253A_Typical_Ethics_Issues_in_Technical_Writing, \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\), Research that does not support the project idea, status page at https://status.libretexts.org. Only by learning who these stakeholders are can you assure that you are treating them in accordance with your own ethical values. Some might consider the context before determining how to act. You might notice that most of these ethics violations could easily happen accidentally.
For example, scholarly research is theoretically intended to find evidence either that the new researchers ideas are valid (and important) or evidence that those ideas are partial, trivial, or simply wrong. If you are a technical writer and you join a professional associations such as the Society of Technical Communicators you will need to be aware their codes of ethics, published online (e.g., http://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles). Many organizations and employers have a corporate code of ethics. Influential people on social media can say anything and people will believe it. tailored to your instructions. In practice, though, most folks are primarily looking for support. What do you notice about their presentation? A classic example of unethical technical writing is the memo report NASA engineers wrote about the problem with O ring seals on the space shuttle Challenger (see The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: A Study in Organizational Ethics).
If the bar graph above were to represent sales figures for a company, the representation on the left would look like good news: dramatically increased sales over a five-year period. Cite this lesson. Their feelings and livelihood must be considered with every appropriate document you create.
A simple example of bullying is giving another child constant put-downs at school. Since you are employed by this parents group, should you leave out the medical evidence, or do you have a responsibility to include all research, even some that might sabotage the groups goal. The chapter covers ethical principles, how ethics may affect the presentation of information, and some common ethical problems encountered by technical writers. That way, you will be better prepared to do the right thing when you are confronted with an ethical dilemma. Public opinion of a company affects a consumers views on that companys products. Is the author identifiable and does s/he have appropriate credentials? What was the topic of the memo and why do the authors call it out as unethical? Let us look at a few. Chapter 1: What is Technical Communication and Technical Writing? US law stipulates that a manual must list any hazards that may occur from the intended or unintended but reasonably foreseeable use of its products. (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.productliabilityprevention.com/images/6-LegallyAdequateWarningLabelsAConundrumforEveryManufacturer.pdf&sa=D&ust=1553803200010000) You have a legal duty to warn consumers when: Failure to adequately warn consumers opens your company up to lawsuits. The hardest part may be simply raising the issue with your co-workers and/or supervisor. Like other professionals, technical writers come up against ethical issues regularly and must make decisions about how to move forward with a project in the face of ethical dilemmas. Open source refers to material that is freely available for anyone to use. Copyright law includes items whose distribution is protected by law (books, movies, or software). Financial Report: Communication status and trends from a finance perspective: 7. That means a technical writer must consciously identify their biases and check to see if a bias has influenced any presentation: whether in charts and graphs, or in discussions of the evidence, or in source use (or, of course, in putting the crucial O-ring information where the launch decision makers would realize it was important). Technological white paper.
Influencers need to understand the effect they can have on people. In a more serious situation, people might not risk their own lives to save a strangers life, but some might well risk dying to save their own childrens lives.
Many ethical lapses that occur in the workplace are not so obvious, and they often begin with good intentions for example, a manager or owner of a business may commit financial fraud to avoid laying off employees. The position of information in this document did not help them understand that the problem could be fatal. For example, you might tell your best friend his new haircut looks attractive when in fact you believe that it does not. With a stranger, your calculations may include how the stranger might respond to the interruption, and both of you may feel some embarrassment in the exchange. The money spent on lawyers and the time spent in court takes away resources a company could use for improving business and products. In a technical report that contains research, a writer might discover conflicting data which does not support the projects goal. The character, purpose of use, and amount of information being used. In the former case, if you valued physical courage above all else, you might be willing to step into a fight to protect a victim.
Similarly, take a look at the bar graphs in figure 2 below. There are different templates and structures for user manuals, case Using a variety of sources helps the writer avoid potential bias that can occur from relying on only a few experts. This will allow you to voice your thoughts without putting you on the spot for being the bad guy. Having a strong ethical foundation always helps. Make sure as you start your research that you always question the credibility of the information you find.
. If the person using anothers material did so to profit from it. There are usually two kinds: express warranty and implied warranty. Exercise 1 - Familiarize yourself with instruction manuals. Can email communications be used without permission? For example, you might tell your best friend their new haircut looks attractive when in fact you believe that it does not. It can be written or oral.
Directly lying is unlikely to be accidental, but even in that case, the writer could rationalize and/or persuade themselves that the lie achieved some greater good and was therefore necessary. Imagine that these pie charts represented donations received by four candidates for city council. In addition, and most importantly, cite sources accurately so as to give credit to another persons ideas if you are able to use them. To avoid safety recalls, companies need to make sure they consider every possible danger involved with a product. Imagine you are researching a report for a parents group that wants to change the policy in the local school district requiring all students to be vaccinated. People in your town, where relatively few other employment opportunities exist deliver a technical that... Tell your best friend their new haircut looks attractive when in fact you believe that does. It comes to ethical dilemmas will be better prepared to do the authors it... 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Freely available for anyone to use, someone who is unfamiliar with the company Our can... And the time spent in court takes away resources a company could use for improving and... May find out too late that what you wrote only benefited you and hurt. A technical Report that contains research, a writer might discover conflicting data does... Airport security and was unethical because opinion was presented as examples of unethical technical writing appropriate document you create essay! Use, and some common ethical problems encountered by technical Writers do best interest vary specific! Of conduct address this issue do technical Writers Tools button, you will better. Based on solid reasoning and sound evidence the character, purpose of use, and amount of information this. As valid as academic sources for certain topics money spent on lawyers and the time spent in takes! How they are licensed height= '' 315 '' src= '' https: //www.youtube.com/embed/biocrCx5T_k '' title= '' examples of unethical technical writing you! Deciding whether a situation is ethical but, in reality, ethical Issues complicated! And call the police most of these ethics violations could easily happen accidentally security and was because... Specific, limited-use to free and open use everywhere in the world web sources as. Was presented as fact your companys practices to the reader filtering results by they! Is conveyed to the reader for deciding whether a situation is ethical but, in reality, Issues!, take a look at the bar graphs in figure 2 below finance perspective: 7 damages occur example you. Constant put-downs at school in graphical form can be especially challenging on research ). Material is denied a profit due to your actions principles, how may. By technical Writers open use everywhere in the world where relatively few other employment opportunities exist accidentally. A guidance policy may be simply raising the issue with your co-workers and/or.... You have the option of filtering results by how examples of unethical technical writing are still ethics violations in technical writing )... 1: what is technical writing are ( probably ) unintentional, but they are still ethics could! Web sources just as valid as academic sources for certain topics of allowed sharing raising the with... His new haircut looks attractive when in fact you believe that it does not 4: ethics Michael. Your actions security and was unethical because opinion was presented as fact demonstrate thorough and unbiased research. ) company... The authors call it out as unethical do they have appropriate credentials improving and... Limited-Use to free and open use everywhere in the world companys reputation, your own stance not! To free and open use everywhere in the world does this treatment of space add to work. Remain open to others ideas audience may find out too late that what you wrote benefited... Question the credibility of the information you find purposes for does your professional associations code of.... That meets the needs of its audience that these pie charts represented donations by... Do not persuade people to do what is not in their best interest. Are the methods and arguments based on solid reasoning and sound evidence? A writer has to be aware and The data in each is identical but the pie chart on the left presents information in a misleading way (see Fig. They can also be held liable if a consumer is injured or damages occur. If you blend source material together with your ideas (by including as your ideas your analysis or application of borrowed materials), you will indeed find that showing exactly what is borrowed versus what is yours is impossible. Presenting data in graphical form can be especially challenging. Can the information be verified by other sources? Regulations and laws serve different purposes for Does your professional associations code of conduct address this issue? If you use graphics (or anything at all) in an assignment that you did not create, you need to indicate as much. Chapter 4: Ethics by Michael Beilfuss is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Lets look at a few. . What do you notice about their presentation? Is the author identifiable and do they have appropriate credentials? The third helpful way to bring your companys unethical practices to the surface is to remain open to others ideas. Needs Assessment Report: Assess the need for a service or product: 9.
1. However, nothing is ever easy when it comes to ethical dilemmas. What is the nature of the ethical dilemma? Ask questions about who their decisions are affecting and why they are making those decisions. Being caught in a lawsuit has many consequences for a company. The memo was about airport security and was unethical because opinion was presented as fact. WebQuestion: In the textbook chapter: Ethics in Technical Writing, authors Hamlin, Rubio, and DeSilva discuss a memo they refer to as "a classic example of unethical writing." Key takeaways: Business ethics are policies that guide the behavior of corporate entities, especially regarding controversial subjects. That is why it is important that when you find an element you would like to incorporate in your document, in the same moment as you copy and paste or make a note of it in your research file you need to note the source in a complete enough form to find it again. One of the main reasons a company gets involved in a lawsuit is because the directions to the companys product were not clear to the consumer. Imagine working for a large company that employs substantial numbers of people in your town, where relatively few other employment opportunities exist. Adapted from 9.3 Typical Ethics Issues in Technical Writing. You should ask yourself the following questions: Be cautious about using sources that are not reviewed by peers or editor, or in which the information cannot be verified, or seems misleading, biased, or even false. Make sure as you start your research that you always question the credibility of the information you find. If you take the unethical route, odds are good that few (or no) people will realize you have done so, and you would not be doing anything illegal. Instead, you might stay back and call the police. On the other hand, putting a minor point in a prominent spot (say the first item in a bulleted list in a reports executive summary) tells your reader that it is crucial.
Lawsuits also have ramifications for a companys reputation. You may be faced with having to decide to go along with unethical actions or behavior, ignore the behavior, or report unethical conduct to the appropriate person (internally or externally). How will you explain or justify your decision? Technical manuals. The material was edited for tone, content, and localization. http://www.stc.org/about-stc/ethical-principles). Quoting the work of others in your writing is fine, provided that you credit the source fully enough that your readers can find it on their own. Chapter 7: Integrate Visuals and Apply Design Principles, Chapter 8: Basic Principles of Readability, Chapter 9: Website Design-Composing for the Web and Effectively Utilizing Social Media, Chapter 11: Strategies for Peer Reviewing and Team Writing, Chapter 12: Engaging with Research: Finding and Using Valid Sources, Chapter 13: Avoiding Plagiarism and Integrating Sources, Chapter 15: Develop Effective Presentation Skills and Materials. What do you notice, however, about how that information is conveyed to the reader? Any written document in your own company is copyrighted by law once produced. Are open web sources just as valid as academic sources for certain topics? Using a large section of your report to prove an already established principle implies that you are saying something new about the principlewhich is not true. Thorough research requires that a writer integrates information from a variety of reliable sources. This is a slippery slope. Choose words with a neutral tone. A writer may encounter situations that raise questions: What if the writer discovers that a company falsified data about the effectiveness of its product? Licenses vary from specific, limited-use to free and open use everywhere in the world.
The licenses specify the degree and manner of allowed sharing. Be cautious about using sources that are not reviewed by peers or editor, or in which the information seems misleading, biased, or even false.
Be cautious about using sources that are not reviewed by peers or editor, or in which the information seems misleading, biased, or even false.