Faculty Profile

Chris Lam

Title
Associate Professor
Department
Technical Communication
College
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

    

Education

PhD, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2009.
Major: Technical Communication
Degree Specialization: Applied Linguistics; computer-mediated communication
Dissertation Title: 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 Title: Humanities Course Audit and Instructional Design for Workplace Learning and Performance Institute
BA, University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign, 2004.
Major: History
Dissertation Title: History of 19th Century British Women in Higher Education

Current Scheduled Teaching*

TECM 5550.001, Studies in the Teaching of Technical Communication, Summer 2024
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Spring 2024 Syllabus
TECM 4180.003, Advanced Technical Communication, Spring 2024 Syllabus

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Previous Scheduled Teaching*

TECM 5191.801, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 8W1 2023 SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 5900.001, Special Problems, Fall 2023
TECM 5550.001, Studies in the Teaching of Technical Communication, Summer 8W1 2023 SPOT
TECM 4180.003, Advanced Technical Communication, Spring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4900.004, Special Problems, Spring 2023
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.301, Information Design for Electronic Media, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 2700.024, Technical Writing, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4400.002, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 2700.009, Technical Writing, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Fall 2021 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.301, Information Design for Electronic Media, Fall 2021 SPOT
TECM 2700.024, Technical Writing, Fall 2021 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2021
TECM 2700.009, Technical Writing, Fall 2020 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 2700.312, Technical Writing, Fall 2020 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Spring 2020 Syllabus
TECM 5290.001, Design and Development of High Tech Training Materials, Spring 2020 Syllabus
TECM 4800.001, Topics in Technical and Professional Communication, Spring 2020 Syllabus
TECM 5195.801, Editing Technical Documents, Summer 8W2 2019 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2019 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2019
TECM 4190.005, Technical Editing, Spring 2019 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Fall 2018 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 5191.001, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 8W2 2018 SPOT
TECM 4900.010, Special Problems, Fall 2018
TECM 5195.801, Editing Technical Documents, Spring 8W1 2018 SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2018 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2018 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Fall 2017 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 5191.001, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 2017 SPOT
TECM 5290.001, Design and Development of High Tech Training Materials, Spring 2017 SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2017 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2017 SPOT
TECM 4900.706, Special Problems, Spring 2017
TECM 5900.706, Special Problems, Spring 2017
TECM 4400.001, Advanced Information Design in Technical Communication, Fall 2016 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 5191.001, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 2016 SPOT
TECM 4180.001, Advanced Technical Writing, Summer 5W1 2016 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 4180.002, Advanced Technical Writing, Spring 2016 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2016 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2016 SPOT
TECM 4900.706, Special Problems, Spring 2016
TECM 5900.706, Special Problems, Spring 2016
TECM 4180.003, Advanced Technical Writing, Fall 2015 Syllabus SPOT
TECM 5191.001, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 2015 SPOT
TECM 5900.706, Special Problems, Fall 2015
TECM 4250.001, Writing Technical Procedures and Manuals, Summer 5W1 2015 SPOT
TECM 5195.001, Editing Technical Documents, Spring 2015
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2015 Syllabus
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2015
TECM 5191.001, Digital Literacies for Professional Communicators, Fall 2014
TECM 4190.002, Technical Editing, Fall 2014 Syllabus
TECM 4180.001, Advanced Technical Writing, Summer 5W1 2014 Syllabus
TECM 4180.002, Advanced Technical Writing, Spring 2014 Syllabus
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2014 Syllabus
TECM 5180.001, Professional Writing, Fall 2013
TECM 4190.004, Technical Editing, Fall 2013 Syllabus
TECM 4180.001, Advanced Technical Writing, Summer 5W1 2013 Syllabus
TECM 5195.001, Editing Technical Documents, Spring 2013
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2013 Syllabus
TECM 3200.303, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2013
TECM 4190.002, Technical Editing, Fall 2012 Syllabus
TECM 4250.001, Writing Technical Procedures and Manuals, Fall 2012 Syllabus
TECM 3200.001, Information Design for Electronic Media, Spring 2012 Syllabus
TECM 4250.002, Writing Technical Procedures and Manuals, Spring 2012 Syllabus
TECM 4180.001, Advanced Technical Writing, Fall 2011 Syllabus
TECM 4180.004, Advanced Technical Writing, Fall 2011 Syllabus

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Published Publications

Published Intellectual Contributions

Abstracts and Proceedings
Lam, C. Y. (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. Y. (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. Y. (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 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. Y. (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. Y. (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. Y., 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. Y. (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. Y. (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. Y. (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. Y. (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
Lam, C. Y. (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

Awarded Grants

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Grant - Research
Lam, C., "External Consultant," Sponsored by National Science Foundation, International, $599301 Funded. (September 1, 2020August 31, 2025).
Lam, C. Y., "An investigation of the STEM Team Writing Process," Sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $4250 Funded. (20192019).
Lam, C. Y., "Small Grant," Sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $1000 Funded. (20172017).
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. (20142014).
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. (20132014).
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. (20132013).
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. (20122012).
Lam, C. Y. (Principal), "Dissertation Grant," Sponsored by Illinois Institute of Technology- Interprofessional Projects, Other, $1300 Funded. (20082008).
,
Overall
Summative Rating
Challenge and
Engagement Index
Response Rate

out of 5

out of 7
%
of
students responded
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
    • The course as a whole was
    • The course content was
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
CLOSE