Assessment for Material ConneXion by Sheridan - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by madeleine.crew… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is no missing form label error but there are other errors that are popping up in the report including orphaned form labels errors in that section. The labelling isn't terrible. You can search materials by name or material connexion number and/or by country with additional filters.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, these are labelled search and by country.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The boxes are labelled search or MC. Not everyone may know MC stands for the particular number associated with the materials in this database.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The filters have orange text but has no explanation why.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Checked. I tested by entering an incorrect password when logging into my saved materials list. It allows the opportunity to correct the password and tells you this is the issue.
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: Top. It says "invalid log in or password."
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Not really. It says invalid login or password. Doesn't tell you which one is incorrect.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes. This can be accessed easily.
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 a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: I was looking at saving. You can save materials to a folder called My Materials. However, I gave it sometimes because you actually have to go into a specific material in order to find the option to save to my materials folder.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search button doesn't have search in the actual box. Keyword or MC (which is material connexion number). Search is labelled above the search box. Save isn't clear until you actually select a material. I gave this sometimes because of the search button but the labelling is a little unclear.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
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:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: It avoids launching in a new tab. It also has the option to return to search.
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: There appears to be only one drop down menu which is searching by country. The rest of the menu are collapsible boxes.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: I think it contains what it needs to contain in order to search this particular database effectively.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: The results don't open in a new tab.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It redirects to a new page with the filters applied but you don't realize it until the page refreshes.
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: Material ConneXion
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Material ConneXion
Institution: Sheridan
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? Sometimes There is no missing form label error but there are other errors that are popping up in the report including orphaned form labels errors in that section. The labelling isn't terrible. You can search materials by name or material connexion number and/or by country with additional filters.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always Yes, these are labelled search and by country.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes The boxes are labelled search or MC. Not everyone may know MC stands for the particular number associated with the materials in this database.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never The filters have orange text but has no explanation why.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Checked. I tested by entering an incorrect password when logging into my saved materials list. It allows the opportunity to correct the password and tells you this is the issue.

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 Top. It says "invalid log in or password."
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Never Not really. It says invalid login or password. Doesn't tell you which one is incorrect.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always Yes. This can be accessed easily.
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

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

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes I was looking at saving. You can save materials to a folder called My Materials. However, I gave it sometimes because you actually have to go into a specific material in order to find the option to save to my materials folder.
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”. Sometimes The search button doesn't have search in the actual box. Keyword or MC (which is material connexion number). Search is labelled above the search box. Save isn't clear until you actually select a material. I gave this sometimes because of the search button but the labelling is a little unclear.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Sometimes
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
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? Always
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? Always It avoids launching in a new tab. It also has the option to return to search.

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 There appears to be only one drop down menu which is searching by country. The rest of the menu are collapsible boxes.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always I think it contains what it needs to contain in order to search this particular database effectively.
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? Not Applicable The results don't open in a new tab.
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? Never It redirects to a new page with the filters applied but you don't realize it until the page refreshes.

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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