Glossary

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Satisficing

A decision-making strategy where users select the first option that appears "good enough" rather than evaluating all possibilities to find the optimal choice. Coined by Herbert Simon, satisficing is common in web navigation, especially among older adults and users with cognitive…

Savoring

An emotion-regulation strategy involving the mindful noticing, appreciating, and intensifying of positive experiences — past, present, or anticipated future — to support subjective wellbeing. Savoring differs from general reminiscence in its deliberate focus on amplifying…

Selective Attention(also: Focused Attention)

The cognitive ability to focus on a specific stimulus or task while filtering out irrelevant distractions. In accessibility and inclusive design, understanding selective attention is critical for creating interfaces that minimize cognitive overload, reduce visual clutter, and…

Self-Assessment Manikin(also: SAM)

A nonverbal pictorial instrument developed by Bradley and Lang (1994) for measuring the affective dimensions of valence, arousal, and dominance. Respondents select from a row of stylised manikin figures whose expressions and body states vary along each dimension, typically on a…

Self-Determination(also: Autonomy, Self-Determination Theory)

The right and ability of individuals to make choices and decisions about their own lives, bodies, and futures without external coercion or control. In disability rights, self-determination is a core principle affirming that disabled people should have agency over their own care,…

Self-Determination Theory(also: SDT)

A psychological framework identifying three innate human needs — autonomy (feeling in control of one's actions), competence (feeling effective and capable), and relatedness (feeling connected to others) — that drive intrinsic motivation and well-being. In accessibility and…

Self-Efficacy

A person's belief in their own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish particular tasks. In workplace inclusion contexts, self-efficacy is an important outcome measure for assistive technology interventions — technologies should not only help workers complete…

Self-Regulation(also: Self-Management, Behavioral Regulation)

The ability to monitor and manage one's own emotions, behavior, and cognitive processes to achieve goals. Self-regulation encompasses emotional regulation, attentional control, and behavioral inhibition. In accessibility contexts, designing for self-regulation means creating…

Social Cognitive Theory(also: SCT, Social learning theory)

A psychological framework developed by Albert Bandura that explains how people learn through observing others, building self-efficacy, and interacting with their social environment. In the context of accessibility and digital literacy, SCT provides a foundation for designing…

Social Proof

A psychological and behavioural phenomenon in which people rely on the choices, ratings, and reviews of others as evidence when making decisions under uncertainty. In digital accessibility contexts, social proof becomes especially load-bearing for users who cannot independently…

Socially Recursive Inference(also: Social Recursion)

The cognitive process by which individuals' perceptions and behaviors are shaped by what they believe others think about them or their situation. In accessibility contexts, socially recursive inference manifests when AT users are influenced by what they think non-disabled people…

Sociocultural Learning Theory(also: Sociocultural Theory, Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory)

A theory of learning developed by Lev Vygotsky that argues cognitive development and knowledge acquisition are fundamentally social, mediated by language, culture, and interaction with more knowledgeable others. Key concepts include the zone of proximal development (the gap…

Sustained Attention(also: Vigilance, Continuous Attention)

The ability to maintain focus on a task or stimulus over an extended period of time. Sustained attention is a core executive function that can be impaired in conditions such as ADHD, traumatic brain injury, and various neurodevelopmental disorders. Designing for sustained…

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