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Dr. Chris Y. Lam

Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Technical Communication

Email: Chris.Lam@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2009
    Major: Technical Communication
    Specialization: Applied Linguistics; computer-mediated communication
    Dissertation: The linguistic patterns that lead to rapport management, trust, interactional justice, support, and leader-member exchange.
  • MS, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2006
    Major: Technical Communication and Information Design
    Dissertation: Humanities Course Audit and Instructional Design for Workplace Learning and Performance Institute
  • BA, University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign, 2004
    Major: History
    Dissertation: History of 19th Century British Women in Higher Education

Professional Positions

  • Adjunct Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology. Illinois Institute of Technology. (2009 - 2011).
  • Graduate Instructor, Illinois Institute of Technology. Illinois Institute of Technology. (2005 - 2009).

    • Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Associate Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2017 - Present).
  • Assistant Professor, University of North Texas. University of North Texas. (2011 - 2017).

Professional Memberships

  • Association of Teachers of Technical Writing. (2016 - Present).
  • Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication. (2015 - Present).
  • Association for Business Communication. (2011 - Present).
  • IEEE Professional Communication Society. (2007 - Present).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • TECM 2700 - Technical Writing, 5 courses.
  • TECM 3200 - Information Design for Electronic Media, 21 courses.
  • TECM 4180 - Advanced Technical Communication, 10 courses.
  • TECM 4190 - Technical Editing, 4 courses.
  • TECM 4250 - Writing Technical Procedures and Manuals, 3 courses.
  • TECM 4400 - Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, 7 courses.
  • TECM 4500 - Content Analysis in Technical Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 4800 - Topics in Technical and Professional Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 4900 - Special Problems, 6 courses.
  • TECM 4920 - Cooperative Education in Technical Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 5180 - Professional Writing, 1 course.
  • TECM 5191 - Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, 7 courses.
  • TECM 5195 - Editing Technical Documents, 5 courses.
  • TECM 5290 - Design and Development of High Tech Training Materials, 2 courses.
  • TECM 5550 - Studies in the Teaching of Technical Communication, 2 courses.
  • TECM 5640 - Practicum in Technical Communication, 1 course.
  • TECM 5900 - Special Problems, 4 courses.

Directed Student Learning

  • Other (Independent Study), "UX Design and Development of Artists' Collective App," Technical Communication. (2017).
  • Other (Independent Study), "UX Design and Development of UNT Safe App," Technical Communication. (2016).
  • Other, "Building an online corpus of technical communication work," Technical Communication. (2015).

Awards and Honors

  • Nominated for CCCC Best Article on Pedagogy or Curriculum in Technical or Scientific Communication, CCCC. (2018).
  • Nominated for CCCC Best Article on Pedagogy or Curriculum in Technical or Scientific Communication, CCCC. (2020).
  • Nominated for Nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in CLASS, UNT Class. (2020).
  • Nominated for Nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in CLASS, UNT CLASS. (2019).
  • Nominated for Nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in CLASS, CLASS. (2018).
  • Nominated for CCCC Best Article on Pedagogy or Curriculum in Technical or Scientific Communication, CCCC. (2017).
  • Nomination: Outstanding Faculty, Interprofessional Projects Program, Illinois Intitute of Technology. (2010).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Abstracts and Proceedings

  • Lam, C. & Bauer, M.. (2008). Incorporating experimental designs in business communication research. Proceedings of the 73rd Annual Convention of the Association for Business Communication.Related Links:http://tinyurl.com/8mcd972.
  • Lam, C. & Mackiewicz, J.. (2007). A case study of coherence in workplace instant messages. Proceedings of the 2007 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference.Related Links:http://tinyurl.com/92zshfg.
  • Lam, C.. (2006). Applying the spatial-contiguity effect to software manuals. Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference.Related Links:http://tinyurl.com/8dlcg4v.

    • Book

  • Wolfe, J., Lam, C.Y. (2024). Team Writing, 2nd Edition. https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/product/Team-Writing/p/131933976X

    • Book Chapter

  • Lam, C.Y. (2023). Functional Flexibility: Cultivating a Culture of Adaptability for the Work of Professional Writing. WAC Clearinghouse.
  • Lam, C.Y. (2023). Research in Keywords in Technical and Professional Communication. WAC Clearinghouse.

    • Conference Proceeding

  • Lam, C.Y., Boettger, R.K. (2017). An overview of research methods in technical communication journals (2012–2016). Other. 4. IEEE.
  • Friess, E., Campbell, K.S., Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y. (2017). Are we missing the boat? A roundtable discussion on research methods and how they define the field. IEEE International Professional Communication Society (ProComm).
  • Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y., Palmer, L. (2017). Improving the data information literacies of technical communication undergraduates. Other. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
  • Lam, C.Y. (2017). Transforming Your Conference Paper into an Article for the IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.
  • Lam, C.Y. (2016). Can slack curb slacking?: Examining the importance of team communication in reducing social loafing. IEEE Professional Communication Society.
  • Lam, C.. (2014). Visualizing Categorical Data: An Introduction to Correspondence Analysis for Technical Communication Researchers. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE Professional Communication Society Conference..

    • Journal Article

  • Lam, C., Wolfe, J. (2023). An Introduction to Quasi-Experimental Research for Technical and Professional Communication Instructors. Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 37 (2) Iowa State, Iowa, Sage.
  • Lam, C., Campbell, K. (2021). Follow the leader? The Impact of Leader Rapport Management on Social Loafing. Business Communication Quarterly. Association of Business Communication.
  • Lam, C. (2021). Hashtag #TechComm: An Overview of Members, Networks, and Themes from 2016-2019. Technical Communication. STC. stc.org/techcomm/2021/04/29/hashtag-techcomm-an-overview-of-members-networks-and-themes-from-2016-2019/
  • Friess, E., Lam, C.Y. (2021). "Dude, that sucks": Examining Scrum's Influence on Empathy in Student Teams. Technical Communication Quarterly. 30 (2) 189-203. Taylor and Francis.
  • Lam, C., Biggerstaff, E. (2019). Finding Stories in the Threads: Can Technical Communication Students Leverage User-Generated Content to Gain Subject-Matter Familiarity?. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 62 (4) IEEE.
  • Campbell, K.S., Lam, C.Y. (2019). The Effect of Leader Rapport-Management Feedback on Leader–Member Relationship Quality and Perceived Group Effectiveness in Student Teams. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 62 (3) IEEE.
  • Friess, E., Lam, C.Y. (2018). Cultivating a sense of belonging: Using Twitter to Establish a Community in an Introductory Technical Communication Classroom. Technical Communication Quarterly. 27 (4) 343-361.
  • Lam, C.Y. (2018). More than a feeling: Applying a data-driven framework in the technical and professional communication team project. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 61 (4) 409-427. IEEE.
  • Hannah, M.A. & Lam, C.. (2017). Drawing From Available Means Assessing the Rhetorical Dimensions of Facebook Practice. International Journal of Business Communication. 54 (3) Sage. http://job.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/02/17/2329488415572788
  • Lam, C.Y., Hannah, M.A., Friess. (2016). Connecting programmatic research with social media: Using data from Twitter to inform programmatic decisions. Programmatic Perspectives. 8 (2) 47-71.
  • Lam, C. (2016). Correspondence analysis: A statistical technique ripe for technical and professional communication researchers. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 59 (3) IEEE.
  • Lam, C. (2016). Improving technical communication group projects: An experimental study of media synchronicity theory training on communication outcomes. Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 30 (1) Sage.
  • Hannah, M.A., Lam, C.Y. (2016). Patterns of Dissemination: Examining and Documenting Practitioner Knowledge Sharing Practices on Blogs. Technical Communication. 63 (4) STC.
  • Lam, C. & Hannah, M.A.. (2016). The Social Help Desk: Examining How Twitter is Used As a Technical Support Tool. 4 (2) ACM.
  • Lam, C & Hannah, M.A.. (2016). Flipping the Audience Script: An Activity That Integrates Research and Audience Analysis. 79 (1) Sage. http://bcq.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/08/03/2329490615593372.abstract
  • Lam, C.. (2015). The Role of Communication and Cohesion in Reducing Social Loafing in Group Projects. 78 (4) Sage. http://bcq.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/07/29/2329490615596417.abstract
  • Lam, C.. (2014). Where did we come from and where are we going?: Examining authorship characteristics in technical communication research. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6977987
  • Boettger, R.K., Lam, C.Y. (2013). An Overview of Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research in Technical Communication Journals (1992–2011). IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. 56 (4) 272-293. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/tpc.2013.2287570
  • Lam, C.. (2013). The efficacy of text messaging to improve connectedness and team attitude in student technical communication projects: An experimental study. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 27(2), 180-208. Related Links:http://jbt.sagepub.com/content/27/2/180.abstract. http://jbt.sagepub.com/content/27/2/180.abstract
  • Lam, C.. (2011). Linguistic politeness in student-team Emails: Its impact on trust between leaders and members. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 54 , 360-375. Related Links: http://tinyurl.com/97muyy3. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6087245&tag=1
  • Mackiewicz, J. & Lam, C.. (2009). Coherence in workplace instant messages. Journal of Technical Writing & Communication, 39, 417-431. Related Links: http://tinyurl.com/9w2vpx6 http://baywood.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer. http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?id=k48g72153027pxr1

Presentations Given

  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Research Methods in Technical Communication Scholarship, (2011 - 2011).
  • Text messaging in workplace contexts: An experimental study, (2011 - 2011).
  • Directness and Linguistic Politeness in Leader-Member Discourse, (2009 - 2009).
  • Incorporating Methodologies from Multiple Disciplines to Create Unique Experimental Designs in Technical Communication Research, (2009 - 2009).
  • Incorporating Experimental Designs in Business Communication Research, (2008 - 2008).
  • A Case Study of Coherence in Workplace Instant Messaging, (2007 - 2007).
  • Applying the Spatial-Contiguity Effect to Software Manuals (Poster), (2006 - 2006).

    • Keynote/Plenary Address

  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), UCF Symposium on Writing and Rhetoric, Everything is not as it seems: Can critical data literacy solve the world's problems?, University of Central Florida, United States of America. (2018).

    • Lecture

  • Lam, C.Y. (Other), ACM Symposium of E-Learning and Technical Communication, Computer-Mediated Communication and Teamwork, Japan. (2014 - 2014).

    • Oral Presentation

  • Lam, C.Y. (Author & Presenter), ACM SigDOC Annual Meeting, Are you assigning the right “kinds” of group projects?: Examining how project tasks influence project outcomes., Association for Computing Machinery - Special Interest Group for the Design of Communication, Boston, MA, United States of America. (2022).
  • Campbell, K.S. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author), SmithJ. (Author & Presenter), Lam, C.Y. (Author), Association of Business Communication Conference, Exploring how AI writing tool instruction shapes attitudes, Denver, CO, United States of America. (2023).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW), Teaching Citizenship in Group Projects: Practical Insights from Three Studies of Technical Communication Group Projects, Houston, TX, United States of America. (2016).
  • Friess, E. (Panelist), Lam, C.Y. (Panelist), Hannah, M. (Panelist), Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication 2015 Conference, Using Twitter data to attract students to technical communication programs, Logan, UT, United States of America. (2015).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Association for Business Communication Annual Conference, Text messaging in student teams, Association for Business Communication, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (2013 - 2013).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Association for Business Communication Annual Conference, Conducting sustainable human subjects research, Association for Business Communication, Honolulu, HI, United States of America. (2012 - 2012).

    • Other

  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), College of Arts and Sciences at UNT, "I wish I had known", College of Arts and Sciences at UNT, United States of America. (2013 - 2013).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, ​ Are we missing the boat? A roundtable discussion on research methods and how they define our field, IEEE, Madison, Wi, United States of America. (2017).
  • Friess, E. (Author & Presenter), Boettger, R.K. (Author & Presenter), Campbell, K.S. (Author & Presenter), Lam, C.Y. (Author & Presenter), IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm) 2017, Are we missing the boat? A roundtable discussion on research methods and how they define our field, IEEE ProComm, Madison, WI, United States of America. (2017 - 2017).

    • Paper

  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Hayhoe, G. (Presenter), Roundtree, A. (Presenter), Baehr, C. (Presenter), Anderson, R. (Presenter), Brewer, P. (Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, Transforming Your Conference Paper into an Article for the IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, IEEE, Toronto, CA, United States of America. (2018).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society Annual Conference, An Overview of Research Methods in Technical Communication Journals (2012–2016), IEEE, Madison, Wi, United States of America. (2017).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, Improving the data information literacies of technical communication undergraduates, IEEE, Madison, Wi, United States of America. (2017).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Presenter), Hayhoe, G. (Presenter), Brewer, P. (Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, Transforming Your Conference Paper into an Article for the IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, IEEE, Madison, Wi, United States of America. (2017).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Author & Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, Can slack curb slacking?: Examining the importance of team communication in reducing social loafing, Austin, TX, United States of America. (2016).
  • Lam, C. (Author & Presenter), Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC),, Using Twitter Data to Inform Programmatic Directions by Bridging the Academy and Industry, United States of America. (2015 - 2015).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Author & Presenter), IEEE Professional Communication Society, Visualizing Categorical Data: An Introduction to Correspondence Analysis for Technical Communicators, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America. (2014 - 2014).

Media Contributions

    Internet

  • "How to Get Your Slacker Co-Workers to Pull Their Weight," Time Magazine. (January 15, 2016).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Lam, C., "External Consultant," sponsored by National Science Foundation, International, $599301 Funded. (2020 - 2025).
  • Lam, C.Y., "An investigation of the STEM Team Writing Process," sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $4250 Funded. (2019 - 2019).
  • Lam, C.Y., "Small Grant," sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $1000 Funded. (2017 - 2017).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Principal), "The role of media choice training on social loafing in student team projects," sponsored by Scholarly and Creative Activity Grant (SCA), University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2014 - 2014).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Principal), "Comprehensively examining research in technical communication scholarship: A two-part empirical study," sponsored by Research Initiative Grant (RIG), University of North Texas, $4300 Funded. (2013 - 2014).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Principal), "The impact of media choice training on communication and task performance in student projects: An experimental study," sponsored by Junior Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2013 - 2013).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Principal), "The Efficacy of Text Messaging in Collaborative Writing Projects: An Experimental Study," sponsored by Junior Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (2012 - 2012).
  • Lam, C.Y. (Principal), "Dissertation Grant," sponsored by Illinois Institute of Technology- Interprofessional Projects, Other, $1300 Funded. (2008 - 2008).
  • Lam, C., "External Consultant," sponsored by National Science Foundation, International, Funded. (2020 - 2025).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, CLASS PAC. (October 2024 - Present).
  • Member, RPTC. (2022 - Present).
  • Member, Executive Committee. (2015 - Present).
  • Committee Chair, PAC. (2024 - 2024).
  • Director, Graduate Studies. (August 2023 - May 2024).
  • Committee Member, Assistant Professor Search Committee. (October 2023 - 2023).
  • Committee Member, Faculty Senate Committee on the Status of People of Color. (February 22, 2021 - 2023).
  • Director, Department of Technical Communication Lower Division Courses. (August 2020 - August 2023).
  • Committee Member, Dean Search Committee. (November 2022 - January 2023).
  • Committee Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on Committees. (June 1, 2021 - December 2022).
  • Member, Faculty Senate. (August 8, 2019 - 2022).
  • Committee Chair, Lecturer Search Committee. (May 2022 - July 2022).
  • Member, Faculty Senate Committee on Committees. (September 9, 2020 - June 1, 2021).
  • Chairperson, Teaching Methods Roundtable. (2018 - 2020).
  • Other, Web Developer for TC Teaching Repository. (2018 - 2020).
  • Faculty Mentor, Faculty Mentor for Vince Robles. (2017 - 2020).
  • Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee. (2014 - 2020).
  • Chairperson, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2019 - 2019).
  • Faculty Advisor, Eagle Technical Communication. (2017 - 2019).
  • Member, Personnel Affairs Committee. (2015 - 2019).
  • Member, Special Committee for the Provost. (2018 - 2018).
  • Committee Chair, Search Committee for Assistant Professor. (2017 - 2017).
  • Committee Chair, Search Committee for Assistant Professor. (2016).
  • Member, Search Committee for Department Chair. (2015 - 2016).
  • Other (Web content administrator), Website administrator - Technical communication. (2014 - 2016).
  • Member, College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council. (August 1, 2016 - December 30, 2016).
  • Committee Chair, Lecturer Search Committee. (2015).
  • Member, Writing Committee for the Policy on Distributed Learning-Creation, Use, Ownership, Royalties, Revision and Distribution of Electronically Developed Course Materials. (2014 - 2015).
  • Member, CAS Computing Committee. (2012 - 2015).
  • Other (Developer), Department of Technical Communication. (2014 - 2014).
  • Member, LTC Search Committee for Lecturer in Technical Communication and Science Writing. (2014 - 2014).
  • Member, LTC Search Committee for Lecturer in Technical Communication. (2013 - 2013).
  • Member, LTC Senior Lecturer in Tech Comm Search Committee. (2012 - 2012).

Professional Service

  • Editor, Associate Editor, Journal of Business and Technical Communication. Ames, IA. (September 2022 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Business and Technical Communication. (2020 - Present).
  • Editorial Review Board Member, Business and Professional Communication Quarterly. (2015 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Journal of Business and Technical Communication. (2012 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. (2009 - Present).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Tenure review for Santa Clara University. (2024 - 2024).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Tenure Review for UCF. (2024 - 2024).
  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer (Program Review), Kennesaw State University Department of Technical Communication. Kennesaw, GA. (March 2024 - April 2024).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, Business and Professional Communication Quarterly. (October 11, 2019 - 2022).
  • Committee Chair, ACM SigDoc 2020 International Conference. (2019 - October 2020).
  • Other (Guest Member on CPTSC Administrators' Committee to discuss collaboration of TCREPO database.), CPTSC. (2018 - 2019).
  • Board of Advisors, Advisory Committee of IEEE Professional Communication Society. (January 1, 2017 - December 2019).
  • Committee Chair, Member Engagement Sub-Committee for AdCOM. (2017 - 2019).
  • Editor, Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. (2016 - 2019).
  • Reviewer, Book, Taylor and Francis. (2018 - 2018).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Technical Communication Quarterly. (2018).
  • Guest Speaker, University of Central Florida Department of Writing and Rhetoric. (2018).
  • Reviewer, Journal Article, Communication Design Quarterly. (2017).
  • Reviewer, Book, Routledge Press. (2017 - 2017).
  • Chairperson, IEEE Professional Communication Society Conference Publications Co-Chair. (2015 - 2016).
  • Reviewer, Book, IEEE/Wiley Press. (2015).