On Instructions
Abstract
On Instructions Joseph C. McDonald Editor-in-Chief Winter holidays are a time during which gifts may be given to our families. Our modern times are such that many gifts, especially toys, have printed on their boxes the words that strike fear into the hearts of parents the world over … “Assembly Required”. Manufacturers usually provide instructions for assembling their products, but some instruction sheets are easier to understand and follow than others. The subject of instruction sheets or manuals brings to mind perhaps one of the wisest introductions this author has ever read. It appeared in an instruction manual for a rather complex scientific instrument. The manual for this device contained a foreword that began by saying: “Well, we realize that you have already turned on the device and have been playing with it for some time. Now, if you wish to learn how to use it properly please read at least the first few pages of this manual”. Those who developed the manual obviously knew well the habits of their customers. They knew that scientists must take the empirical approach of … Full Text of this Article