Research Guidelines -- By Importance

Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines - Current Research-Based Guidelines on Web Design and Usability Issues

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Guidelines by Importance

Chapter	Title	Relative Importance	Strength of Evidence	Relative Score
1:2	Use an Iterative Design Approach			25
1:4	Provide Useful Content			25
11:1	Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds			25
11:2	Ensure Visual Consistency			25
10:1	Provide Consistent Clickability Cues			20
9:1	Use Clear Category Labels			20
17:2	Ensure Usable Search Results			20
5:2	Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage			20
3:4	Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information			20
8:1	Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling			20
17:3	Allow Simple Searches			20
5:1	Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site			20
16:1	Organize Information Clearly			20
2:1	Display Information in a Directly Usable Format			15
13:2	Detect Errors Automatically			15
16:2	Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website			15
2:2	Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics			15
13:4	Label Data Entry Fields Clearly			15
9:2	Use Unique and Descriptive Headings			15
13:1	Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields			15
1:3	Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes			15
13:3	Minimize User Data Entry			15
11:3	Format Common Items Consistently			10
7:1	Provide Feedback on Users' Location			10
1:1	Set and State Goals			10
5:3	Show All Major Options on the Homepage			10
17:1	Provide a Search Option on Each Page			10
4:1	Design for Common Browsers			10
13:5	Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields			10
2:5	Standardize Task Sequences			20
11:4	Use at Least 12-Point Font			20
14:1	Use Video, Animation, and Audio Meaningfully			20
12:1	Order Elements to Maximize User Performance			20
15:4	Use Mixed Case with Prose			20
16:3	Facilitate Scanning			20
16:4	Group Related Elements			20
10:6	Ensure that Embedded Links are Descriptive			16
10:4	Use Meaningful Link labels			16
6:2	Use Frames When Functions Must Remain Accessible			16
17:6	Design Search Around Users' Terms			16
1:6	Establish User Requirements			16
1:11	Select the Right Number of Participants			16
2:6	Minimize Page Download Time			16
12:2	Display Related Items in Lists			16
7:4	Differentiate and Group Navigation Elements			16
10:7	Repeat Important Links			16
10:5	Match Link Names with Their Destination Pages			16
16:5	Display Only Necessary Information			16
12:4	Format Lists to Ease Scanning			16
1:7	Use Parallel Design			16
12:3	Introduce Each List			16
6:3	Establish Level of Importance			16
1:12	Be Easily Found on the Web			16
10:3	Use Text for Links			16
14:2	Include Logos			16
15:5	Avoid Jargon			16
7:5	Use Descriptive Tab Labels			12
16:7	Format Information for Multiple Audiences			12
1:9	Focus on Performance Before Preference			12
14:3	Limit Large Images Above the Fold			12
5:5	Attend to Homepage Panel Width			12
2:7	Warn of "Time Outs"			12
13:8	Allow Users to See Their Entered Data			12
6:1	Set Appropriate Page Lengths			12
1:8	Consider Many User Interface Issues			12
2:3	Provide Assistance to Users			12
5:4	Enable Access to the Homepage			12
15:3	Use Familiar Words			12
13:7	Label Data Entry Fields Consistently			12
1:10	Set Usability Goals			12
7:2	Use a Clickable "List of Contents" on Long Pages			12
13:9	Display Default Values			8
13:10	Use a Minimum of Two Radio Buttons			8
17:4	Make Upper-and Lowercase Search Terms Equivalent			8
12:5	Start Numbered Items at One			8
5:6	Announce Changes to a Website			8
2:4	Provide Printing Options			8
15:1	Define Acronyms and Abbreviations			8
4:4	Design for User's Typical Connection Speed			8
4:3	Design for Popular Operating Systems			8
10:2	Avoid Misleading Cues to Click			8
4:2	Account for Browser Differences			8
3:2	Design Forms for Users Using Assistive Technology			8
13:6	Label Pushbuttons Clearly			8
10:8	Designate Used Links			8
3:3	Provide Text Equivalents for Non-Text Elements			8
1:5	Understand and Meet Users' Expectations			8
16:6	Ensure that Necessary Information is Displayed			8
7:3	Do Not Create Pages with No Navigational Options			8
10:9	Link to Related Content			8
15:2	Use Abbreviations Sparingly			8
17:5	Design Search Engines to Search the Entire Site			4
2:13	Design For Working Memory Limitations			15
14:6	Ensure that Images Do Not Slow Downloads			15
9:4	Use Descriptive Headings Liberally			15
1:13	Recognize Tester Bias			15
11:6	Emphasize Importance			15
16:8	Design Quantitative Content for Quick Understanding			15
11:5	Use Familiar Fonts			15
14:9	Use Simple Background Images			15
6:8	Align Items on a Page			15
15:6	Make First Sentences Descriptive			12
8:2	Use Scrolling Pages for Reading Comprehension			12
2:10	Provide Feedback When Users Must Wait			12
13:11	Use Radio Buttons for Mutually Exclusive Selections			12
14:8	Graphics Should Not Look Like Banner Ads			12
7:8	Use Appropriate Menu Types			12
6:6	Structure for Easy Comparison			12
14:10	Include Actual Data with Data Graphics			12
15:7	Use Active Voice			12
7:7	Use Site Maps			12
14:5	Label Clickable Images			12
6:4	Place Important Items at Top Center			12
2:12	Do Not Require Users to Multitask While Reading			12
6:7	Use Moderate White Space			12
15:9	Limit the Number of Words and Sentences			12
6:5	Place Important Items Consistently			12
13:14	Use a Single Data Entry Method			12
12:6	Place Important Items at Top of the List			12
14:4	Limit the Use of Images			9
2:9	Use Users' Terminology in Help Documentation			9
13:19	Label Units of Measurement			9
13:12	Use Check Boxes to Enable Multiple Selections			9
9:6	Highlight Critical Data			9
10:13	Use "Pointing-and-Clicking"			9
15:10	Limit Prose Text on Navigation Pages			9
7:6	Present Tabs Effectively			9
10:11	Use Appropriate Text Link Lengths			9
2:8	Reduce the User's Workload			9
2:11	Inform Users of Long Download Times			9
13:18	Provide Auto-tabbing Functionality			9
9:3	Use Descriptive Row and Column Headings			9
17:7	Notify Users When Multiple Search Options Exist			9
3:7	Provide Client-Side Image Maps			9
13:13	Use Familiar Widgets			9
10:14	Clarify Clickable Regions of Images			9
3:9	Provide Frame Titles			6
15:8	Write Instructions in the Affirmative			6
13:17	Place Cursor in First Data Entry Field			6
13:15	Partition Long Data Items			6
5:7	Communicate the Website's Purpose			6
14:7	Use Thumbnail Images to Preview Larger Images			6
3:10	Test Plug-ins and Applets for Accessibility			6
13:20	Ensure that Double-Clicking Will Not Cause Problems			6
3:8	Enable Users to Skip Repetitive Navigation Links			6
3:6	Ensure that Scripts Allow Accessibility			6
10:10	Link to Supportive Information			6
10:12	Indicate Internal vs. External Links			6
9:5	Provide Descriptive Page Titles			6
13:16	Do Not Make User-Entered Codes Case Sensitive			6
3:5	Provide Equivalent Pages			6
3:1	Comply with Section 508			6
16:9	Use Color for Grouping			10
6:9	Choose Appropriate Line Lengths			10
11:7	Use Attention-Attracting Features when Appropriate			10
1:14	Use Heuristics Cautiously			10
1:15	Use Cognitive Walkthroughs Cautiously			10
14:11	Display Monitoring Information Graphically			8
8:3	Use Paging Rather Than Scrolling			8
7:9	Keep Navigation-only Pages Short			8
6:10	Avoid Scroll Stoppers			8
15:11	Make Action Sequences Clear			8
13:21	Do Not Limit Viewable List Box Options			6
14:12	Introduce Animation			6
5:8	Limit Prose Text on the Homepage			6
14:13	Ensure Website Images Convey Intended Messages			6
17:8	Provide Search Templates			6
3:11	Synchronize Multimedia Elements			4
13:22	Use Open Lists to Select One from Many			4
2:14	Develop Pages that Will Print Properly			4
9:7	Provide Users with Good Ways to Reduce Options			4
13:23	Prioritize Pushbuttons			4
8:4	Scroll Fewer Screenfuls			4
4:5	Design for Commonly Used Screen Resolutions			4
3:12	Do Not Require Style Sheets			2
3:13	Avoid Screen Flicker			2
13:25	Use Data Entry Fields to Speed Performance			5
14:14	Use Images to Facilitate Learning			5
12:8	Use Appropriate List Style			4
14:15	Emulate Real-World Objects			4
13:24	Minimize Use of the Shift Key			4
8:5	Facilitate Rapid Scrolling			3
1:16	Apply Automatic Evaluation Methods			3
9:8	Use Headings in the Appropriate HTML Order			2
12:7	Capitalize First Letter of First Word in Lists			2
5:9	Limit Homepage Length			2
7:10	Use "Glosses" to Assist Navigation			2

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