A 15 factor and 157 item checklist for assessing website usability and accessibility

What is it about?

This 15 factor and 157 item checklist is rooted in cognitive psychology, instructional design, computer science, but most importantly, human-computer interface study, which can be used to guide researchers and practitioners in assessing the usability and accessibility of websites. The checklist addresses: browser support, add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions; domain and URLs; website performance; trademarks, logos, and associated information; advertisements and pop-ups; navigation; searching; online help; web page layout and content organization; language use; graphics, figures, and tables; text formatting; video and audio; user interface and behavior; and authentication and error handling.

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Why is it important?

Although academic researchers have long advocated the importance of assessing the effectiveness of websites, with numerous approaches published, and efforts made to help improve the overall quality of sites, assessing these sites is still a very much ill-defined practice, conducted by some and largely ignored by most. It is important that websites are not only easy to use, but accessible by all visitors, to include those with special needs. The development of instruments to help assess and measure the usability of websites is, therefore, vital in that such instruments could be used to help in the design and development of sites that not only meet their intended purpose, but are also usable and accessible by all users.

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