This article examines the most common reasons for this tendency, and the most feasible solutions. While there may be many reasons as to why the novice prefers to ask another person for help instead of looking in a manual, the most common explanation is convenience. It is easier to simply ask someone how to perform a certain task than to look for the answer in an accompanying manual, for instance.
Novices often find it difficult to formulate their queries in the first place.
Here's what shouldn't happen Some non-human resources turn novices off by being too difficult or too unclear. On the other hand, well-designed resources can give novices confidence in their ability to solve their own problems. They can choose to use help wizards that are built into certain programs. An example of this is the gallery of intelligent agents offered in Microsoft Office. Other resources include CD-ROMs or videotape tutorials.