A survey study to inform feature development for Clarivate’s eBook Central
Client
ProQuest eBook Central (part of Clarivate)
Role
Survey Design
UX Research
Data Analysis
Stakeholders
Product Managers
UX Team
Presented
March 2025
eBook Central, Clarivate’s academic reading platform lacked basic accessibility tools. The only existing feature was partial text resizing in ePub format.
During an earlier mixed-method evaluation, we benchmarked EBC against accessibility features from peer platforms (Apple Books, Libby, etc.) and found EBC underperformed on all key dimensions.
During an earlier mixed-method evaluation, we benchmarked EBC against accessibility features from peer platforms (Apple Books, Libby, etc.) and found EBC underperformed on all key dimensions.
To build on this insight, I co-led a follow-up accessibility survey during my internship at Clarivate. The goal was to identify which features users actually rely on, and which ones should be prioritized in future development.
Goals
01 Understand how different user groups, especially students and faculty, engage with accessibility tools
02 Explore the relationship between academic role, device usage, and feature preferences
03 Inform product roadmap decisions with data-driven evidence
Survey Structure
Tool Qualtrics (embedded in Book Details page)
Questions 7 total. Optimized to reduce drop-off and maximize completion ndergraduate students, faculty, and researchers
Responses 293 completed all questions from 902 survey takers
Follow-up opt-ins 48
Demographics Graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and researchers
I also noted the timing of the survey, launched in the summer, likely influenced lower undergraduate participation. This informed how I interpreted the data.
KEY INSIGHTS
01
Laptops were the primary device for reading across all user groups Why this matters: it helps EBC prioritize features for the environments users actually read in, e.g., larger screen sizes and desktop interactions.
KEY INSIGHTS
01
Laptops were the primary device for reading across all user groups Why this matters: it helps EBC prioritize features for the environments users actually read in, e.g., larger screen sizes and desktop interactions.
KEY INSIGHTS
01
Laptops were the primary device for reading across all user groups Why this matters: it helps EBC prioritize features for the environments users actually read in, e.g., larger screen sizes and desktop interactions.
02
Text read-aloud needs vary with graduate students showing highest preference Faculty reported lower need, likely due to their different use cases (e.g., assigning rather than consuming texts). This set the stage for future qualitative inquiry into reading habits and assistive workflows.
02
Text read-aloud needs vary with graduate students showing highest preference Faculty reported lower need, likely due to their different use cases (e.g., assigning rather than consuming texts). This set the stage for future qualitative inquiry into reading habits and assistive workflows.
02
Text read-aloud needs vary with graduate students showing highest preference Faculty reported lower need, likely due to their different use cases (e.g., assigning rather than consuming texts). This set the stage for future qualitative inquiry into reading habits and assistive workflows.
03
Dark mode is in demand, but not background customization Users wanted a simple toggle for dark mode, but showed little interest in manually adjusting background or text colors. This suggested that simpler, high-impact changes should be prioritized over granular controls.
03
Dark mode is in demand, but not background customization Users wanted a simple toggle for dark mode, but showed little interest in manually adjusting background or text colors. This suggested that simpler, high-impact changes should be prioritized over granular controls.
03
Dark mode is in demand, but not background customization Users wanted a simple toggle for dark mode, but showed little interest in manually adjusting background or text colors. This suggested that simpler, high-impact changes should be prioritized over granular controls.
04
Full-screen mode emerged as the most essential feature It ranked consistently at the top across demographics. Its high utility and low complexity made it a clear candidate for near-term implementation.
04
Full-screen mode emerged as the most essential feature It ranked consistently at the top across demographics. Its high utility and low complexity made it a clear candidate for near-term implementation.
04
Full-screen mode emerged as the most essential feature It ranked consistently at the top across demographics. Its high utility and low complexity made it a clear candidate for near-term implementation.
Summary
01 Laptop-first platform
02 Full-screen mode ranked highest
03 Graduate students preferred read-aloud tools
04 Users wanted dark mode, not full customization
Impact
This study clarified which features matter most to academic readers, and which assumptions could be safely dropped. The findings helped product and design teams sharpen their focus and sparked new questions around accessibility, device behavior, and user intent.
Next Steps 01 Interview participants who opted in, focusing on workflow-specific use of assistive tools
02 Include an optional disability/status question to differentiate accessibility vs. convenience
03 Re-run the survey in Fall or Spring to include broader student representation
Reflection This project helped move accessibility research from abstract user feedback to structured product recommendations. It also sharpened my skills in targeted survey design, fast-turnaround synthesis, and stakeholder alignment.
