Assessment for Canada Commons by Humber - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by stefanie.read@… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The majority of instructions are placeholder text
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It only appears after you make an error - and it's never clear which are required until after submission
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: I tested it out writing #$$%% for my last name and it did not pick up that it was an error. I also did not indicate my role and it didn't affect the form
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When using advanced search and submitting an incorrectly spelled search, it did not allow me to return easily to the advanced search page. It took me back to the result list.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The login page had 3 different errors and would only display one at a time
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It was able to identify incorrect spelling once but had no suggestions
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The Search only had placeholder text, so in my mind that doesn't count as a label - but it is consistently placed throughout the site
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There were 13 redundant links in one search and 39 redundant links in another. The articles beside the text are
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: The only thing that was not consistent was the use of "view" for some articles to open and "read" for others
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When you click on view on an article, a new window pops up without warning to either another site or it opens a PDF
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Whenever you click on view, it takes you to a new page, usually a PDF and there is no back capabilities. However, when the option is "read" it usually allows you to go back
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: They can be accessed via keybaord navigation but not screen reader
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
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: Canada Commons
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Trojman Corporation
Institution: Humber
Score: C+

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? Never The majority of instructions are placeholder text
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Never
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never It only appears after you make an error - and it's never clear which are required until after submission

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always

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? Sometimes
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes I tested it out writing #$$%% for my last name and it did not pick up that it was an error. I also did not indicate my role and it didn't affect the form
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? Sometimes When using advanced search and submitting an incorrectly spelled search, it did not allow me to return easily to the advanced search page. It took me back to the result list.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Never The login page had 3 different errors and would only display one at a time

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Never It was able to identify incorrect spelling once but had no suggestions

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? Sometimes
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always The Search only had placeholder text, so in my mind that doesn't count as a label - but it is consistently placed throughout the site
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always There were 13 redundant links in one search and 39 redundant links in another. The articles beside the text are
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 The only thing that was not consistent was the use of "view" for some articles to open and "read" for others
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always
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? Sometimes When you click on view on an article, a new window pops up without warning to either another site or it opens a PDF
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Not Applicable
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes Whenever you click on view, it takes you to a new page, usually a PDF and there is no back capabilities. However, when the option is "read" it usually allows you to go back

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always
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? Always
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes They can be accessed via keybaord navigation but not screen reader

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Sometimes
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never
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
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