private function getCheckboxChecked( $option )
    {
        $fieldElements = $this->getXpath()->findFields( $option );
        EzAssertion::assertElementFound( $option, $fieldElements, null, 'checkbox' );

        // this is needed for the cases where are checkboxes and radio's
        // side by side, for main option the radio and the extra being the
        // checkboxes values
        if ( strtolower( $fieldElements[0]->getAttribute( 'type' ) ) !== 'checkbox' )
        {
            $value = $fieldElements[0]->getAttribute( 'value' );
            $fieldElements = $this->getXpath()->findXpath( "//input[@type='checkbox' and @value='$value']" );
            EzAssertion::assertElementFound( $value, $fieldElements, null, 'checkbox' );
        }

        return $isChecked = ( $fieldElements[0]->getAttribute( 'checked' ) ) === 'true';
    }