Accessibility Test Cases

A11Y-USER-005

User-observation evidence and issue triangulation

Generated file current Authoring: Content complete
What file status means

This status reports only whether the generated procedure matches the current controlled source hash. It is not independent content verification, regulatory approval, product evidence or a conformance decision.

Recorded standards review: No optional specialist review recorded. Next review: Not scheduled.

MethodUser evaluation
TesterAccessibility researcher
Indicative effort315–457 min small scope

Runs a governed disabled-user evaluation procedure for user-observation evidence and issue triangulation.

Available formats

Use this test in the format you need

The HTML procedure includes the working worksheet. JSON provides the structured source data. Editable Markdown files are delivered inside package downloads.

Purpose

What this test checks

Runs a governed disabled-user evaluation procedure for user-observation evidence and issue triangulation.

What this result means: This procedure determines whether User-observation evidence and issue triangulation meets its stated expectations for the recorded targets and accessibility-user-research. Unexecuted targets, states and environments remain outside that result.

Why it matters

Runs a governed disabled-user evaluation procedure for user-observation evidence and issue triangulation. People most likely affected: participants represented by the study and product teams responsible for acting on observed barriers. An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. In the recorded accessibility-user-research environment, protect participant consent, support needs and privacy while observing the complete task; an inaccessible study method can harm participants and produce findings that misrepresent their experience.

When to use it

Apply User-observation evidence and issue triangulation when the approved disabled-user study, represented participants, tasks and environments. The selected focus is User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.

Confirm before starting

Mark it not applicable only when

Exceptions

This platform, journey, usability or quality procedure creates no additional normative exception. Apply exceptions only in the linked atomic or criterion-level conformance procedure and preserve that separate decision.

Prepare

What you need

  • The product area and test targets are agreed before testing starts.
  • The operating system, browser, viewport and input method are recorded.
  • Test data is safe to use and does not expose unnecessary personal information.

Targets and required variations

  • The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
  • Default, revealed, loading, empty, validation error, interruption, recovery and confirmation where meaningful.
  • Every required environment, viewport, orientation, language and authenticated state recorded in the frozen scope.

Clean state

  • Complete a known-good calibration in the same environment before product testing.
  • Start from a recorded clean or known state and preserve any prior preferences, extensions, cache or profile settings that can affect output.

Effort estimate

Setup
120 min
Per target
60 min
Evidence
45 min
Technical review
90 min

Assumptions: one 45–60 minute participant session after approved recruitment and consent; recruitment, accommodations and qualitative synthesis are additional work

Variation: Add a new per-target execution and evidence allowance for each additional target class or state that could produce a different result. Add setup time for each distinct environment.

Excluded: Client coordination, inaccessible-environment recovery, recruitment, legal review, remediation implementation and waiting time unless the procedure states otherwise.

Execute

Test steps

Follow each action in order. The expected result is always visible; open the guidance when you need setup, tool, evidence, decision or repeat details. Step-level recording is optional while work is in progress and required only to export a completed execution.

Step 1

Prepare the scope, target and environment

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, prepare the named scenario: Prepare the scope, target and environment. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. The preparation must establish this result: The selected targets, states, test data, environment and any scope limitations are complete enough for another qualified tester to reproduce the setup.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Prepare the scope, target and environment.

Before executing User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, freeze the product version and scope. Inventory each applicable target, select the required starting states, prepare safe test data and record every required environment value. Complete any named known-good calibration before attributing an observation to the product.

Expected result

The selected targets, states, test data, environment and any scope limitations are complete enough for another qualified tester to reproduce the setup.

Failure observation

During User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, the target, starting state, environment or scope record remains ambiguous for the scenario named Prepare the scope, target and environment. The preparation result cannot be demonstrated: The selected targets, states, test data, environment and any scope limitations are complete enough for another qualified tester to reproduce the setup.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, the product version and scope are frozen; every selected target and material starting state is uniquely identified.
Tool or command
Use the scope record and worksheet environment fields for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: product_version, research_protocol, research_protocol_version, task_script_version, session_mode, research_platform, research_platform_version, participant_chosen_technology, participant_chosen_technology_version, consent_record_reference.
Record
Scope/version reference; target inventory; starting states; safe-data reference; every required environment value; calibration result or reason it is not required.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Prepare the scope, target and environment only when the evidence (Scope/version reference; target inventory; starting states; safe-data reference; every required environment value; calibration result or reason it is not required.) supports: The selected targets, states, test data, environment and any scope limitations are complete enough for another qualified tester to reproduce the setup.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: During User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, the target, starting state, environment or scope record remains ambiguous for the scenario named Prepare the scope, target and environment. The preparation result cannot be demonstrated: The selected targets, states, test data, environment and any scope limitations are complete enough for another qualified tester to reproduce the setup.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, correct the setup gap, preserve the original blocked record and start a new execution observation before proceeding.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Prepare the scope, target and environment for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, do not begin from an undocumented browser tab, document copy, device state, participant plan or evidence set. Record the exact item you will test first.
Record this step

Step 2

Record the approved research and consent plan

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, execute the named scenario: Record the approved research and consent plan. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. Compare the observation with this result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Record the approved research and consent plan.

Record the approved research plan, questions, participant criteria, accessibility accommodations, privacy/consent basis and distinction between usability evidence and WCAG conformance testing.

Expected result

The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.

Failure observation

After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record the approved research and consent plan, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, begin in the recorded default state for the selected User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target before this action; preserve the exact content, account, platform and configuration used.
Tool or command
In accessibility-user-research, Use the approved research plan, accessible consent materials, participant-support protocol, task script and secure note or recording system. Use each participant's chosen technology without changing it for tester convenience.
Record
Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record the approved research and consent plan only when the evidence (Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.) supports: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record the approved research and consent plan, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
Repeat only according to the approved sampling and saturation plan; preserve outliers and record design changes for a separately consented retest. Preserve the first User-observation evidence and issue triangulation observation when repeating.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Record the approved research and consent plan for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: Ask what support the participant wants before the session, distinguish assistance from independent completion, and do not generalise one participant's experience to all disabled people.
Record this step

Step 3

Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, execute the named scenario: Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. Compare the observation with this result: User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context.

Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context; triangulate with technical tests without treating user preference as a WCAG pass/fail rule.

Expected result

User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

Failure observation

After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, begin in the recorded default state for the selected User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target before this action; preserve the exact content, account, platform and configuration used.
Tool or command
In accessibility-user-research, Use the approved research plan, accessible consent materials, participant-support protocol, task script and secure note or recording system. Use each participant's chosen technology without changing it for tester convenience.
Record
Observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation separated from standards findings.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context only when the evidence (Observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation separated from standards findings.) supports: User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
Repeat only according to the approved sampling and saturation plan; preserve outliers and record design changes for a separately consented retest. Preserve the first User-observation evidence and issue triangulation observation when repeating.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Record task-level observations, participant language, assistance, severity and context for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: Ask what support the participant wants before the session, distinguish assistance from independent completion, and do not generalise one participant's experience to all disabled people.
Record this step

Step 4

Record participant assistance, effort and impact

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, execute the named scenario: Record participant assistance, effort and impact. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. Compare the observation with this result: Evidence distinguishes observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation while minimizing personal data.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Record participant assistance, effort and impact.

Record assistance thresholds, independent completion, time/effort only where appropriate, user-reported impact, workarounds and direct quotations only with consent.

Expected result

Evidence distinguishes observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation while minimizing personal data.

Failure observation

After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record participant assistance, effort and impact, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Evidence distinguishes observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation while minimizing personal data.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, begin in the recorded default state for the selected User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target before this action; preserve the exact content, account, platform and configuration used.
Tool or command
In accessibility-user-research, Use the approved research plan, accessible consent materials, participant-support protocol, task script and secure note or recording system. Use each participant's chosen technology without changing it for tester convenience.
Record
Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record participant assistance, effort and impact only when the evidence (Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.) supports: Evidence distinguishes observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation while minimizing personal data.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record participant assistance, effort and impact, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Evidence distinguishes observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation while minimizing personal data.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
Repeat only according to the approved sampling and saturation plan; preserve outliers and record design changes for a separately consented retest. Preserve the first User-observation evidence and issue triangulation observation when repeating.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Record participant assistance, effort and impact for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: Ask what support the participant wants before the session, distinguish assistance from independent completion, and do not generalise one participant's experience to all disabled people.
Record this step

Step 5

Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, execute the named scenario: Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. Compare the observation with this result: Findings are not generalised beyond the participant sample and have a clear validation/retest path.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases.

Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases.

Expected result

Findings are not generalised beyond the participant sample and have a clear validation/retest path.

Failure observation

After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Findings are not generalised beyond the participant sample and have a clear validation/retest path.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, begin in the recorded default state for the selected User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target before this action; preserve the exact content, account, platform and configuration used.
Tool or command
In accessibility-user-research, Use the approved research plan, accessible consent materials, participant-support protocol, task script and secure note or recording system. Use each participant's chosen technology without changing it for tester convenience.
Record
Observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation separated from standards findings.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases only when the evidence (Observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation separated from standards findings.) supports: Findings are not generalised beyond the participant sample and have a clear validation/retest path.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Findings are not generalised beyond the participant sample and have a clear validation/retest path.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
Repeat only according to the approved sampling and saturation plan; preserve outliers and record design changes for a separately consented retest. Preserve the first User-observation evidence and issue triangulation observation when repeating.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Review the synthesis with a disabled researcher/advisor or independent accessibility specialist and link actionable observations to technical retest cases for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: Ask what support the participant wants before the session, distinguish assistance from independent completion, and do not generalise one participant's experience to all disabled people.
Record this step

Step 6

Repeat material variations and recovery

Purpose: For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, execute the named scenario: Repeat material variations and recovery. Target: The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation. Compare the observation with this result: Every material variation and required recovery path has its own reproducible observation; no unexecuted state is merged into a passing result.

User impact: An inaccessible, unsafe or weakly governed study can harm participants or produce misleading claims. This scenario isolates that risk in the action named Repeat material variations and recovery.

Repeat the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation action for each inventoried variation that can change the outcome. Include relevant default, revealed, error, interruption, recovery and confirmation states and complete the selected process from start to finish where this test can affect task completion.

Expected result

Every material variation and required recovery path has its own reproducible observation; no unexecuted state is merged into a passing result.

Failure observation

After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Repeat material variations and recovery, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Every material variation and required recovery path has its own reproducible observation; no unexecuted state is merged into a passing result.

Setup, evidence and decision guidance
Target
The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
Required state
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: Default, revealed, loading, empty, validation error, interruption, recovery and confirmation where meaningful. Every required environment, viewport, orientation, language and authenticated state recorded in the frozen scope.
Tool or command
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, use the same recorded method, then change only the state, environment or recovery condition being compared.
Record
Variation identifier; changed state or environment; start and end points; actual observation; recovery result; intervention; evidence reference and target outcome.
Pass
Record passed for the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Repeat material variations and recovery only when the evidence (Variation identifier; changed state or environment; start and end points; actual observation; recovery result; intervention; evidence reference and target outcome.) supports: Every material variation and required recovery path has its own reproducible observation; no unexecuted state is merged into a passing result.
Fail
Record failed when the action is completed and this failure observation is reproduced: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Repeat material variations and recovery, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: Every material variation and required recovery path has its own reproducible observation; no unexecuted state is merged into a passing result.
Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Blocked
Record blocked, not passed, when An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Repeat or recover
Repeat this action for every required variation of User-observation evidence and issue triangulation and after a material target, content, state, environment or configuration change. Preserve the original observation.
Limitations
This scenario records the action named Repeat material variations and recovery for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation in accessibility-user-research. It does not establish behaviour for another target, state or environment and does not set a WCAG conformance decision.
If you are new to this test
For User-observation evidence and issue triangulation, change one material condition at a time where practical. Do not assume that a passing default state covers errors, overlays, orientation changes, interruptions or recovery.
Record this step

Decide

How to decide

Passed

User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

Failed

An applicable User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target has a reproducible material barrier against one or more stated expectations; identify the exact expectation, state and evidence.

Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.
Cannot tell
The target is applicable, but conflicting evidence or unresolved responsibility prevents a defensible expectation decision after recorded comparison.
Not tested
An applicable target, required state, complete process or named real environment was not executed.
Aggregation and reporting boundaries

Aggregation: Preserve every target/environment outcome. Any failed target prevents an overall passed procedure result. cantTell and untested remain unresolved; inapplicable is valid only when the completed inventory contains no applicable target.

WCAG decision: This specialist, platform, document, usability or quality result does not set a WCAG success criterion to satisfied or not_satisfied automatically. Use linked atomic and criterion-level procedures for that separate decision.

Automation: A checker, accessibility-tree inspection, emulator or simulated assistive technology is diagnostic evidence only. Complete every required manual, real-platform, contextual and exception check.

Record

Record the result

Record the target, state and observed behaviour. Add evidence or technical details only when needed.

Choose the option that best matches what happened to this target.

Describe the actual behaviour and why it supports the selected result.

When more than one target is recorded, the overall procedure result is calculated from all target results.

Environment: Not set.
Add evidence or details

Choose only the group needed for this record. These fields remain optional for a working draft.

Evidence references

Enter one file name, issue ID or evidence reference per line. Files stay on your device.

Test environment

Save a named profile once to reuse the same product, platform and environment details on other procedures in this browser.

Engagement and tester identifiers

Component expectation results

Use these controls only when the procedure has distinct component expectations. The overall outcome must agree with them.

E1 User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

E2 Every selected target and meaningful state is tested using the stated method.

E3 Another qualified tester can understand and reproduce the decision from the recorded evidence.

Formal completion and limitations

Identify the frozen list or sampling record used to select every target represented by this execution.

Choose a final result before marking the execution complete. Completed records require the full environment, step, evidence and method-specific information.

Data management

Export before clearing if the record must be retained. Apply the engagement retention schedule and delete browser data when it is no longer needed.

Saved drafts stay in this browser and are not uploaded. Do not enter credentials, secrets or unnecessary personal data.

Reference

Supporting information

Standards and requirement mappings
  • W3C-INVOLVE-USERS · W3C-INVOLVE-USERS usability · supporting

    This source does not override WCAG or create an additional WCAG conformance requirement.

  • GOVUK-AT-TESTING · GOVUK-AT-TESTING usability · supporting

    This source does not override WCAG or create an additional WCAG conformance requirement.

Supporting and advisory guidance

Supporting sources are identified in the mappings and source register. They do not add conformance requirements.

Evidence specification
  • Study protocol

    Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.

    Reference or redact sensitive material. Do not store credentials, secrets, unnecessary personal data or unconsented participant data.

  • Session record

    Coded participant, personal technology/environment, task, assistance, completion, interruption, recovery and consented evidence.

    Reference or redact sensitive material. Do not store credentials, secrets, unnecessary personal data or unconsented participant data.

  • Finding record

    Observed fact, participant report and evaluator interpretation separated from standards findings.

    Reference or redact sensitive material. Do not store credentials, secrets, unnecessary personal data or unconsented participant data.

  • Limitation record

    Sample coverage, exclusions, non-generalisation boundary and deletion/retention decision.

    Reference or redact sensitive material. Do not store credentials, secrets, unnecessary personal data or unconsented participant data.

Worked example and outcome calibration

A11Y-USER-005-WORKED-001: representative worked example

Context: Representative synthetic example for User-observation evidence and issue triangulation on a fictional, version-frozen product target; no client or participant execution occurred.

Inspected: The tester follows S2 (Record the approved research and consent plan) using the target, required state, tool and repeat rule stated in this procedure.

Observed output: After the tester completes the User-observation evidence and issue triangulation scenario named Record the approved research and consent plan, the recorded observation for the target is inconsistent with the required result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict.

Evidence:

  • example-evidence-001: target and state record for The study process and records relevant to User-observation evidence and issue triangulation.
  • example-evidence-002: contemporaneous observation from the named method — Objective, relevant participant characteristics, recruitment, accessible consent, tasks, facilitation, privacy and retention.
  • example-evidence-003: comparison note linking the actual observation to the expected result and claim boundary

Tester reasoning: The recorded observation does not demonstrate the expected result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict. The failed decision is limited to this synthetic target and state; unexecuted coverage is not inferred.

Decision: failed

Finding: A11Y-USER-005-example-finding-001 — User-observation evidence and issue triangulation: expected result is not demonstrated. The represented barrier may affect Participants represented by the study and product teams responsible for acting on observed barriers.

Remediation: Change the represented target or process so it demonstrates this result: The session is authorised, ethical, accessible and cannot be misreported as a technical conformance verdict. Then rerun the affected step and every dependent variation.

Reviewer feedback: The reviewer confirms applicability, environment, actual-versus-expected comparison, evidence references and bounded wording; unsupported product-wide or conformance language is removed.

Final client wording: Synthetic training finding: the sampled User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target does not meet the procedure expectation in the recorded state. User impact and broader scope require evidence from the buyer's real execution.

Retest: Synthetic retest example: after the represented change, repeat the failed step plus material error and recovery states. Close the finding only when new evidence demonstrates the expected result; otherwise retain the non-pass outcome.

Boundary: This is a representative, synthetic worked example for training and calibration. It is not evidence from a client product, participant or real assistive-technology execution.

Outcome calibration

Passed
In accessibility-user-research, the selected User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target completes the recorded action and meets this expectation: User evidence and technical evidence remain distinguishable, traceable and jointly inform impact and remediation priority.

The example is a calibration scenario, not an execution or approval.

Failed
An applicable User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target produces a reproducible barrier during the named action, with the exact state and affected user task recorded.

A failed target remains failed even if another environment or target passes.

Not applicable
No disabled-user study requiring User-observation evidence and issue triangulation is included in the approved research scope.

Inapplicable requires a completed inventory showing that no target matches applicability; a missing environment is not inapplicable.

Cannot tell
The User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target is applicable, but conflicting product/platform evidence or missing authoritative information prevents a defensible responsibility or expectation decision.

Record the conflict, comparisons attempted and person or evidence needed to resolve it.

Not tested
The User-observation evidence and issue triangulation target is applicable, but a required state, complete process or real environment was not executed.

Untested remains incomplete and cannot be converted to passed or inapplicable.

Sampling, complete processes and platform limitations

Recruit participants and select tasks from the research plan. Record who and what the sample represents, without treating it as universal coverage.

If this check is part of a user journey, test the selected journey from start to finish, including relevant errors and recovery. Record any path that was not tested.

  • A small study cannot be generalised to all disabled people and cannot establish WCAG conformance by itself.
  • Check relevant browser, tool or assistive-technology release notes before assigning unexpected behaviour to the product.
  • If responsibility is unclear, record the reproducible behaviour and use cannot tell until it is resolved.
Related procedures

No related procedure is recorded.

ACT rules and WCAG technique traceability

This is a project-authored manual procedure, not a W3C Approved ACT Rule. An ACT result can support only the part of this procedure covered by that rule. It does not replace the remaining manual or assistive-technology checks.

No supporting W3C Approved ACT Rule is selected for this procedure.

This specialist procedure is not assigned to one WCAG success criterion.

Review history and source register
  1. 2026.08.27-rc.9 — Reworked for plain language, case-focused steps, scoped evidence and transparent draft review status.
  2. 2026.08.27-rc.9 — Migrated to professional catalogue schema v3 with separated outcomes, structured authority, applicability, evidence, decision and review records.
  3. 2026.08.27-rc.9 — Specialist procedure mapped to its task family and current first-party platform guidance and checked for internal consistency; competent review and real execution remain separate.
  4. 2026.08.27-rc.9 — Added explicit preparation and variation/recovery steps plus a bounded representative worked example for paid-template use.
  5. 2026.08.27-rc.9 — Procedure guidance and presentation simplified without changing draft governance status.

Review decision: pending. Open issues: Execute all required real environments and calibration cases.; Complete a distinct competent review and retain any unresolved material finding as blocked or cantTell.

Source historyReport an accuracy issue
WCAG
Specialist or advisory method
Execution
Manual test
Catalogue version
2026.08.27-rc.9