Dataset: How Does Users' App Knowledge Influence the Preferred Detail and Format of Software Explanations?

We conducted a study to investigate how users' app-specific knowledge influences their preferences for the depth and format of software explanations. Participants completed an online survey, which included questions designed to assess both subjective and objective knowledge of software in two app categories: browser and office applications. Objective app-specific knowledge was measured through multiple-choice questions with definitive answers, while subjective familiarity was self-assessed by participants. Preferences for explanation formats (e.g., text, video) and detail levels were also collected. The dataset includes raw survey responses, processed objective and subjective knowledge scores, and a comprehensive correlation analysis between knowledge levels, demographics, and explanation preferences. We also provide SQL scripts for extracting data on specific variables (e.g., demographics, knowledge scores) to facilitate targeted analyses. The repository is structured to support replication or extension of the study, with organized directories for Excel results, SQL extraction scripts, and raw survey data, including the original LimeSurvey questionnaire in PDF format.