Publications

The focus here is on specific social elements, such as gender, trust, educational systems, and user engagement. In two of my books, listed above (Cyberliteracy; Persuasion and Privacy), I include chapters on gender and the Internet, which may be of interest here as well.

Gurak, L. J. and Antonijevic, S. (2009). Trust in Online Interaction: An Analysis of the Socio-psychological Features of Online Communities and user engagement. In Proceedings of the conference Cultural Heritage Online. Empowering users: an active role for user communities. December, Florence, Italy.
LOC BOOKS

Gurak, L. J. & Antonijevic, S. (2008). The psychology of blogging: you, me, and everyone in between. American Behavioral Scientist, 52(1), 60-68.
JOURNAL

Baily, B. P., Gurak, L.J., & Konstan, J.A. (2001). An examination of trust production in computer-mediated exchange. In Proc. of the 7^th Conference on Human Factors and the Web.
PDF

Lay, M.M., Gurak, L. J., Mynti, C., & Gravon, C. (Eds.) (2000). Body Talk: Rhetoric, Reproduction, Technology. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
UWP
INTERNET ARCHIVE

Antonijević, S. & Gurak, L.J. (2019). The internet: a brief history based on trust. SOCIOLOGIJA, Vol. LXI (2019), N° 4. pp. 464-47
DOI

Gurak, L. J. & Bayer, N. L. Making gender visible: applying feminist critiques of technology to technical communication. Technical Communication Quarterly, 3(3), 257-270.
DOI

Gurak, L.J. (1997). The promises and perils of graduate education in cyberspace. In Proc. of the 1997 Meeting of the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS).

When the Internet was still in its formative years, social scientists began to recognize the power of this technology to reach communities and conduct research. I was invited to join a group at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, Program in Human Sexuality that was preparing to conduct one of the first large-scale HIV/AIDS intervention/prevention studies using the Internet. We faced technical and ethical challenges related to recruitment, privacy, security, data integrity, and techniques for employing a complex psychosocial instrument via the Web.

Rosser, B.R., Gurak, L. J., Horvath, K. J., Oakes, J. M., Konstan, J., & Danilenko, G. P.  (2009). The challenges of ensuring participant consent in Internet-based sex studies: a case study of the Men’s INTernet (MINTS-I and II) studies. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 14(3), 602-626.
DOI

Rosser, B.R.S. et al. (2009). HIV risk and the Internet: Results of the Men’s INTernet Study (MINTS). AIDS and Behavior, 13(4), 746-756. [6^th author/12].
PUBMED

Konstan, J.A., Rosser, B.R.S., Horvath, K.J., Gurak, L., & Edwards, W. (2007). Protecting subject data privacy in Internet-based HIV/STI prevention survey research. In F.G. Conrad & M.F. Schober (Eds.), Envisioning the survey interview of the future. NY: Wiley.
RESEARCHGATE LINK

Pequegnat, W. et al. (2007). Conducting Internet-based HIV/STD prevention survey research: considerations in design and evaluation. AIDS and Behavior, 11(4), 505-521. [9^th author/16.]
PUBMED

Gurak, L.J. & Hudson, B.L. (2006). E-health: Beyond Internet searches. In M. Murero and R. Rice (Eds.), The Internet and health care. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Rosser, B.R.S. et al. (2002). Researching Internet-mediated sex between men: the men’s INTernet study (MINTS). XIV International AIDS Conference Abstracts. [peer reviewed abstract; 3^rd author/12].

Bockting, W., Gurak, L., Miner, M., Robinson, B., Rosser, B.R.S., Raman, S., & Coleman, E. (2002). Gender identity and HIV risk: reaching the transgender community via the Internet. XIV International AIDS Conference Abstracts. [peer reviewed abstract; 2nd author/7].

Swenson, J., Constantinides, L., & Gurak, L.J. (2002). Audience-driven web design: an application to medical web sites. Technical Communication, 49(3), 340-352.

My graduate training was primarily in rhetorical theory; that is, theories explaining how humans communicate in attempts to persuade, motivate, convince, create social bonds, and so on. In Western history, these ideas go back to Ancient Greece but have been updated throughout history. In my work I have found that rhetorical theories are somewhat lacking but that these concepts become more robust when combined with insights from law, sociology, and psychology. The resulting interdisciplinary concepts are far more nimble and applicable to contemporary settings. After graduate school, my career at the University of Minnesota afforded me many opportunities to expand my theoretical and methodological expertise into related areas such as applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. Throughout, my prevailing interest has been on verbal and non-verbal mechanisms by which character and credibility are both enacted and received/perceived. My early work focused on the concept of ethos; newer work enriches ethos with sociological theories, especially the ideas of Nikolas Luhmann and Guida Möllering.

Gurak, L.J. & James, J.M. (2024). Ethos+Trust in a digital age: a case chronology.In Ethos, technology, and AI in contemporary society: The character in the machine. A., & Kjeldsen, J. E. New York: Routledge.
DOI
CHAPTER

Gurak, L.J. (2018). Ethos, trust, and the rhetoric of digital writing in scientific and technical discourse. Routledge Companion to Digital Writing & Rhetoric. New York: Routledge, 124-131.
DOI
CHAPTER

Gurak, L.J. and Kays, T. (2015). Blogs. In Ilie, C. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
DOI
CHAPTER

Gurak, L.J. & Antonijevic, S. (2008). Digital rhetoric and public discourse. In A. Lunsford, K.H. Wilson, & R.A. Eberly (Eds.), The Sage handbook of rhetorical studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
BOOK

Gurak, L. J. (1998). The rhetorical dynamics of delivery and ethos in online communities.” In P. Kollock & M. Smith (Eds.), Communities in Cyberspace. New York: Routledge.
BOOK

Gurak, L.J., Zappen, J.P., & Doheny-Farina, S. (1997). Rhetoric, community, and cyberspace.” Rhetoric Review, 15.2, 400-419.
DOI
ARTICLE

Gurak, L. J. (1996). The case of Lotus MarketPlace: organization and ethos in a net-based protest.” In Herring, S. (Ed.), Computer-Mediated Communication: Linguistic, Social and Cross-Cultural Perspectives. John Benjamins, 1996.
DOI

Technical writing and communication is the “bread and butter” area where many with my background apply rhetorical/linguistic theories. Most of my teaching did in one way or another relate to technical communication, including teaching the tech comm service course as well as specialty courses in our BS program. I also taught courses for the University honors program as well as graduate courses for our two master’s degrees and PhD. I have had the good fortune to work with Professor John M. Lannon on several textbooks including Technical Communication, starting with that book in its 12th edition (we are currently up to the 16th ed). Despite many changes to the textbook market, this book remains the top technical writing textbook in the country.

TC: Textbooks

Lannon, J.M. & Gurak, L.J. (2024). Technical communication. 16th ed. New York: Pearson. Co-author since the 12th ed.

Gurak, L.J. & Lannon, J.M. (2018). Strategies for technical communication in the workplace. 4th ed. New York: Pearson. First author on all editions.

Gurak, L.J. & Hocks, M. E. (2008). The technical communication handbook. New York: Pearson.

Gurak, L.J. & Lannon, J.M. (2006). Concise guide to technical communication. 3^rd ed. New York: Pearson Longman. First author on all editions. Also released as a Canadian edition.

Gurak, L.J. (2000). Oral presentations for technical communication. New York: Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2000. Series in Technical Communication, Dragga, S. (ed.)

TC: Articles/Chapters/Proceedings

Armfield, D., Gurak, L., & Li, S. (2013). “The Global Reach of Visual Communication: Pitfalls and Potentials.” Proc. of the 2013 International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). July 15-17, 2013, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Piscataway: IEEE
ARTICLE

Armfield, D., Gurak, L., Weinberg, J., & Kays, T. (2012). Technical communication education in a digital, visual world. In Proc. of the 2012 International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC), October 2012, Orlando. Piscataway: IEEE.
ARTICLE

Maylath, B., Grabill, J., & Gurak, L.J. (2010). Intellectual fit and programmatic power: organizational profiles of four professional/technical/scientific communication programs. Technical Communication Quarterly, 19(3), 262-280.
ARTICLE

West, W., Rosser, B.R.S., Monani, S. & Gurak, L.J. (2006.) How learning styles impact e-learning: a case comparative study of undergraduate students who excelled, passed, or failed an online course in scientific/technical writing. Journal of Administrators of Electronic Learning, 2(4), 553-541.

Gurak, L.J. & Duin, A.H. (2004). The impact of the Internet and digital technologies on teaching and research in technical communication. Technical Communication Quarterly, 13(2), 187-198.

Gurak, L. J. (2004). Technical communication and ethics in the age of the Internet. In M. Day & C. Lipson (Eds.) Technical communications and the world wide web. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Gurak, L.J. & Lay,   M.  M. (Eds.) (2002). Research in technical communication. (2002). Westport: Greenwood. ATTW series, Karis, B. & Doheny-Farina, S. (Eds.)

Gurak, L.J. & Silker, C.M. (2002). Technical communication research in cyberspace. In Research in Technical Communication. L.J. Gurak and M.M. Lay (Eds.), Westport, CT: Praeger, 229-248.

Geisler, C. et al. (2001). IText: future directions for research on the relationship between information technology and writing. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 15(3), 269-308. [4^th author/11].

Kastman, L. & Gurak, L.J. (1999). Conducting technical communication research via the Internet: guidelines for privacy, permissions, and ownership in educational research. Technical Communication, 46(4), 460-469.

Gurak, L.J. & Silker, C. (1997). Technical communication research methods: from traditional to virtual. Technical Communication Quarterly, 6(4), 403-418.

Gurak, L.J. (1997). Technical communication, copyright, and the shrinking public domain. Computers & Composition, 14(3), 329-342.
DOI

Gurak, L.J. & Silker, S. (1996). Technical communication in cyberspace: report of a qualitative study. Technical Communication, 43(4), 357-368.

Gurak, L. J. (1996). Technology, community, and technical communication on the Internet: the Lotus MarketPlace and Clipper Chip controversies. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 10(1), 81-99.
DOI

Gurak, L. J. (1995). Rhetorical dynamics of corporate communication in cyberspace: the protest over Lotus MarketPlace.” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 38(1), 2-10.
DOI

Gurak, L.J. (1994). Corporations on the Internet: what we can learn from the case of Lotus MarketPlace. In Proc. of the 1994 International Technical Communication Conference (ITCC). Arlington: Society for Technical Communication, 1994.

Gurak, L. J. (1992, 2003). Toward consistency in visual information: standardized icons based on task. Technical Communication 39(1), 33-37. Recipient of STC Outstanding Article of the Year Award, 1992. [Invited reprint with updated postscript for special issue of Technical Communication fall 2003.]

Gurak, L.J., Rubens, P., & Steirer, D. (1992). Should I fill in this chart with dots or lines?: results of a pilot study on the effectiveness of visual elements in information displays. In Proc. of the 1992 International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Piscataway: IEEE.

Gurak, L.J. (1992). Technical communicators as product developers: examining our values about technology. Proc. of the 1992 International Technical Communication Conference. Arlington: Society for Technical Communication.

Gurak, L.J. & Bayer, N.L. (1992). Artificial intelligence and the technical communicator. Proc. of the 1992 International Technical Communication Conference (ITCC). Arlington: Society for Technical Communication.

Gurak, L.J. (1991). Evaluating the use of metaphor in software interface design: a rhetorical approach. Proc. of the 1991 International Professional Communication Conference (IPCC). Piscataway: IEEE.
ARTICLE

Below are book reviews and some older “pop” articles, listed here for posterity. CMC Magazine was started by John December, a fellow RPI graduate student, in the mid 1990s. It’s no longer published, but it serves a valuable historic purpose for those studying the history of the Internet.

Book Reviews

Gurak, L.J., Haas, G., Johnson, L.A., Kennedy, K.A.  & Reyman, J. L. (2005) Copyright, Ownership, and Digital Media: A Trilogy, 6 Minn. J.L. Sci. & Tech.
LINK

Gurak, L.J. & Propen, A. (2005). Review of Hocks, M. E. and Kendrick, M.R. (Eds.) Eloquent images: word and image in the age of new media. In Technical Communication Quarterly, 14(1), 101-109.

Gurak, L.J. (2004). Review of Warnick, B. Critical literacy in a digital era: technology, rhetoric, and the public interest. In The Information Society, 20(1), 73-74.

Gurak, L.J. (2001). Review of Welch, K. Electric rhetoric. In The Review of Communication, 1(2), 219-225.

Gurak, L.J. (1999). Review of Cherny, L. & Weise, E. (Eds.) Wired women: gender and new realities in cyberspace. In Computers & Composition, 16(1), 177-184.

Gurak, L.J. (1998). Review of Howard, T. A rhetoric of online communities. In Journal of Business and Technical Communication.

Guest Editor, Journals

with Gross, A. (2005). Rhetorics of science and technology. Technical Communication Quarterly, 14(3).

with Racine, S. (2000). The social realms of technology. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 14(3).

with Ebeltoft-Kraske, L. (1999). Gender in the rhetoric of computer-mediated communication. The Information Society, 15(3).

with Johnson-Eilola, J. (1998). Intellectual property. Computers & Composition, 15.

with Silker, C. (1996). Technical communication in cyberspace. Technical Communication 43(4).

Other Publications

Gurak, L. J. (2008). Effective practices for academic leaders: email and effective communication. Stylus Briefing. Vol. 3, Sept. ISSN 1554-0464.

Gurak, L. J. (1997). Utopian visions of cyberspace. Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine, May.

Gurak, L. J. (1996). Toward broadening our research agenda in cyberspace. Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine, February.

Gurak, L. J. (1995). On Thomas, Bob, and other friends. Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine, February.

Gurak, L. J. (1995). Cybercasting about cyberspace. Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine, January.