Short answer
Designers of educational video content must proactively incorporate accessibility features from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Scholars Commons @ Laurier (2016)
- Method
- Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Many vendor-created video tutorials for database searching contain accessibility barriers that prevent users with disabilities from effectively learning to use the resources. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Scholars Commons @ Laurier. Using Qualitative and quantitative analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers of educational video content must proactively incorporate accessibility features from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Vendor-created video tutorials often fail to meet accessibility standards for users with disabilities.
Many vendor-created video tutorials for database searching contain accessibility barriers that prevent users with disabilities from effectively learning to use the resources.
Scholars Commons @ Laurier · 2016
Key Findings
- 01Mixed findings on accessibility.
- 02Some tutorials included positive accessibility features (e.g., captions).
- 03Common accessibility problems were identified (e.g., lack of transcripts, poor color contrast, complex navigation).
Application
Design takeaway
Designers of educational video content must proactively incorporate accessibility features from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
How to apply
When designing any instructional video or digital content, ensure it includes features like accurate captions, transcripts, keyboard navigability, and sufficient color contrast.
Project actions
- 01When evaluating existing products, consider how well they cater to users with different needs.
- 02When designing your own product, think about how to make it accessible to as many people as possible.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a critical gap in digital accessibility.
- +Provides practical recommendations for improving tutorial design.
Limitations
It can be challenging to test with a truly representative sample of users with disabilities without proper resources and ethical considerations.
Reliability & validity
Reliability could be improved by using a standardized checklist for accessibility evaluation across multiple reviewers. Validity is strengthened by focusing on real-world user needs and the impact of specific design choices on usability for individuals with disabilities.
Think critically
To what extent is it the responsibility of the vendor versus the user's institution (e.g., library) to ensure the accessibility of digital learning resources?
Design Principles
"Universal Design: Design products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design."
This highlights a critical gap in inclusive design, impacting the equitable access to information and technology. Designers must consider a wider range of user needs, including those with disabilities, to ensure digital products are usable by all.
What This Means for Your Design
Videos made by companies to teach you how to use software or websites often don't work well for people with disabilities, meaning they can't learn as easily.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this insight to justify the need for user research that includes diverse user groups, especially those with disabilities.
- 2.Inform your design decisions by prioritizing accessibility features based on research findings.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that vendor-created video tutorials often present accessibility barriers for users with disabilities, hindering equitable access to information. This study highlights the need for designers to adopt universal design principles, ensuring that instructional content is usable by the widest possible audience, including those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments, by incorporating features such as captions, transcripts, and keyboard navigability.
Source
Scholars Commons @ Laurier
Accessibility of Vendor-Created Video Tutorials for People with Disabilities
journal · 2016
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about vendor-created video tutorials often fail to meet accessibility standards for users with disabilities?
- Designers of educational video content must proactively incorporate accessibility features from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought. Evidence: Scholars Commons @ Laurier (2016).
- Why does "Vendor-created video tutorials often fail to meet accessibility standards for users with disabilities." matter for design?
- This highlights a critical gap in inclusive design, impacting the equitable access to information and technology. Designers must consider a wider range of user needs, including those with disabilities, to ensure digital products are usable by all.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers of educational video content must proactively incorporate accessibility features from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
- What were the main findings?
- Mixed findings on accessibility.. Some tutorials included positive accessibility features (e.g., captions).. Common accessibility problems were identified (e.g., lack of transcripts, poor color contrast, complex navigation).
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2016 journal from Scholars Commons @ Laurier.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing any instructional video or digital content, ensure it includes features like accurate captions, transcripts, keyboard navigability, and sufficient color contrast.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific type of tutorial (database searching) and may not represent all vendor-created video content. The specific accessibility standards used for evaluation were not detailed.