Assessment for Tourism Cases by Centennial - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by atruong@centen… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The advanced search form and other forms such as the Recommend to Library form do have instructions that accompany the user input fields.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Other than the advanced search form, labels are usually placed above the user input fields on most forms.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Required fields are not in colour on forms.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The asterisk or yellow star are visual indicators for required form fields.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When a user submits a form, such as the newsletter sign-up form, the form is automatically checked for errors, and the user is provided the opportunity to make corrections on the form. It would indicate any required fields or errors.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When incorrect responses are submitted on sign-up forms, there is an orange alert message at the very top of the form to inform the user to make corrections to any errors on the form.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Required field alert messages in orange appear below incorrect input fields to indicate to the user the required fields that need to be filled out.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When using keyboard navigation, it doesn't tab to the alert message "please correct the errors below" and the required field alert messages. It just tabs to the the input fields. Thus, the screen reader only reads the labels of the input fields and not the error messages.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When a user spells a word incorrectly in the main and advanced search bars, the search function doesn't offer spelling suggestions. However, the search bar on the results page does offer spelling suggestions as one types into it.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Search fields are usually located near the top of the page on the main search page and on the advanced search page. On the results page, the search bar is also located near the top of the page to allow for the searching of results.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The contact information and the green help button is always located near the bottom of each page.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A cookies consent pop-up window appears when the user loads the database for the first time in a browser.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: A user must select which types of cookies to accept, in order to close the cookies consent pop-up window.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The database doesn't launch pages in a new browser window. However, some pages such as the CABI Thesaurus on the advanced search page, will open in a new tab within the window, and the back and next buttons will be greyed out.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On some pages, headings don't follow a hierarchical structure. For example, a lower degree heading is above a higher degree heading or a heading level is skipped.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: In the main set of menu options located on the top left corner of every page, the drop-down menu allows the user to select and click on a menu item to further navigate to a submenu item. However, if a user clicks on the "Browse products" drop-down, there are no submenu options to select, and a large number of menu items are displayed at the same time.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There is no "update now" button that requests a refresh of content. Content is updated automatically when filters are selected.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
eResource: Tourism Cases
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: CABI
Institution: Centennial
Score: A-

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Always The advanced search form and other forms such as the Recommend to Library form do have instructions that accompany the user input fields.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes Other than the advanced search form, labels are usually placed above the user input fields on most forms.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never Required fields are not in colour on forms.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always The asterisk or yellow star are visual indicators for required form fields.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always When a user submits a form, such as the newsletter sign-up form, the form is automatically checked for errors, and the user is provided the opportunity to make corrections on the form. It would indicate any required fields or errors.

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Always When incorrect responses are submitted on sign-up forms, there is an orange alert message at the very top of the form to inform the user to make corrections to any errors on the form.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always Required field alert messages in orange appear below incorrect input fields to indicate to the user the required fields that need to be filled out.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Sometimes When using keyboard navigation, it doesn't tab to the alert message "please correct the errors below" and the required field alert messages. It just tabs to the the input fields. Thus, the screen reader only reads the labels of the input fields and not the error messages.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Sometimes When a user spells a word incorrectly in the main and advanced search bars, the search function doesn't offer spelling suggestions. However, the search bar on the results page does offer spelling suggestions as one types into it.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Search fields are usually located near the top of the page on the main search page and on the advanced search page. On the results page, the search bar is also located near the top of the page to allow for the searching of results.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always The contact information and the green help button is always located near the bottom of each page.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Always
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Sometimes A cookies consent pop-up window appears when the user loads the database for the first time in a browser.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Sometimes A user must select which types of cookies to accept, in order to close the cookies consent pop-up window.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes The database doesn't launch pages in a new browser window. However, some pages such as the CABI Thesaurus on the advanced search page, will open in a new tab within the window, and the back and next buttons will be greyed out.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes On some pages, headings don't follow a hierarchical structure. For example, a lower degree heading is above a higher degree heading or a heading level is skipped.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Sometimes In the main set of menu options located on the top left corner of every page, the drop-down menu allows the user to select and click on a menu item to further navigate to a submenu item. However, if a user clicks on the "Browse products" drop-down, there are no submenu options to select, and a large number of menu items are displayed at the same time.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Always
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never There is no "update now" button that requests a refresh of content. Content is updated automatically when filters are selected.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always
Previous1234Next