Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
183 results found in research methods.
- Situated Knowledge (Situated Knowledges)
- A concept from feminist epistemology, developed by Donna Haraway, holding that all knowledge is produced from particular social, bodily, and historical positions rather than from a neutral, objective …
- Snowball Sampling (Chain Referral Sampling)
- A non-probability recruitment method where existing study participants recruit future participants from among their acquaintances, creating a chain of referrals. In accessibility research, snowball sa…
- Social Motor Synchrony (Interpersonal Synchrony, Motor Synchrony)
- The spontaneous or intentional coordination of body movements between two or more people during social interaction, such as matching rhythms, mirroring gestures, or moving in temporal alignment. Socia…
- Social Support Behavioral Code (SSBC)
- A classification framework used in health and social science research to categorize types of support exchanged between individuals. The SSBC identifies five categories of social support: informational…
- Sociotechnical Infrastructure
- The interconnected system of social structures, organizational practices, technical tools, and institutional arrangements that collectively support a technology-based service or program. In assistive …
- Study Circle (Folkbildning, Learning Circle)
- A democratic, non-formal adult education method originating in Nordic countries where a small group of people meet regularly to discuss and learn about a specific topic. Unlike traditional classroom i…
- Summative Evaluation (Summative Usability Testing, Summative Assessment)
- Usability evaluation conducted on functional software or high-fidelity prototypes, typically later in the development process, to measure the effectiveness of specific design choices. Summative testin…
- Support Vector Machine (SVM)
- A supervised machine learning algorithm used for classification and regression tasks. SVMs work by finding the optimal hyperplane that separates data points into distinct categories in a high-dimensio…
- Survey Accessibility (Accessible Surveys, Inclusive Survey Design)
- The practice of designing surveys, questionnaires, and assessment tools so they can be completed by people with diverse abilities, languages, and communication preferences. Survey accessibility encomp…
- Tactile Accuracy
- Tactile accuracy is an evaluation criterion for measuring how well a person perceives the shape information of an object in a tactile image through touch. Unlike "naming accuracy" (whether someone can…
- Talking Mats
- A visual communication framework that uses a textured mat and sets of picture symbols to help people express their views on topics that matter to them. Developed at the University of Stirling, Talking…
- Tangible Design Language (Physical Design Language)
- An approach to design communication that uses physical objects, props, and prototypes to enable participants to express their needs, ideas, and preferences through hands-on interaction rather than abs…
- Task Completion Time (TCT, Time on Task)
- A key usability metric measuring the time a user takes to complete a specific task from start to finish. In accessibility research, task completion time is one of the primary measures for comparing th…
- Technology Adoption Model (TAM)
- A theoretical framework developed by Fred Davis that explains how users come to accept and use new technology. The model proposes that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the primary fa…
- Technology Probe
- A research method that deploys a simple, functional technology prototype in real-world or realistic settings to observe user interactions and gather feedback about future design possibilities. Unlike …
- Techshop Method (Techshops, QUT Techshop)
- A reciprocal co-design research method where researchers learn about participants' perspectives on technology as participants learn about and engage with it. Developed for inclusive technology researc…
- Thematic Analysis (TA)
- A qualitative research method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns (themes) within data. Thematic analysis involves systematically coding data, grouping codes into themes, and refining t…
- Think Aloud (Think-Aloud Protocol, Verbal Protocol, Concurrent Think Aloud)
- A research methodology where participants verbalize their thoughts while performing a task, providing insight into cognitive processes that would otherwise be unobservable. In accessibility research, …
- Think Aloud Protocol (Think-Aloud Method, Verbal Protocol Analysis, Thinking Aloud)
- A usability testing method in which participants verbalize their thoughts, feelings, and decision-making processes while performing tasks with a system or interface. Developed for cognitive interface …
- Think-Aloud (Think-Aloud Protocol, Verbal Protocol Analysis)
- A research method in usability and accessibility testing where participants verbalize their thoughts, strategies, and reactions while performing tasks. Think-aloud protocols are particularly valuable …