Assessment for LWW Journals by Mohawk - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by julie.cristinz… 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:
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are instances of empty form labels, multiple form labels, and orphaned form labels. This was consistent across multiple pages assessed.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: If the user is familiar with searching databases and the terminology associated, then yes.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Labels are not always above the user input fields
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When using different input fields on different pages, users are not consistently provided an opportunity (or given any indication that a possible error was made) to correct things like spelling 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:
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:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Some of the search functions on different pages do suggest that there could be an error in spelling (see example attached), however, there is no auto-fill with drop-down options in the search bar or spelling suggestions on the results page.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: In a visual assessment of icons for the search function, it is not always consistent. On some pages, it is a 'search' button and on other pages, it is a 'magnifying glass' icon.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are differences overall in the OVID interface. For example, the navigation of the 'Journal' tab and the 'Book tab' are not consistent in layout and navigation.
However, when navigating 'OVID Full Text' of LWW journals within the interface, there is consistency in layout and navigation.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search fields for the various tabs i.e. main search page, journals, books, and multimedia are not consistently in the same place.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are instances of buttons and other components that have ARIA labels where the content is hidden and not presented to screen readers.
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: Links for Email, Cite, and Print open automatically in pop-up windows.
When images are selected within 'OVID Full Text' of LWW journal articles, they open in a pop-up window with links that then open in a new tab automatically.

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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: I did not find instances of pop-ups that users are able to postpose, only suppress. Although the majority of pop-ups are able to be suppressed, I found an instance of a pop-up that where this was not an option.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There were instances of empty headings.
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: 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:
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When I used a screen reader to conduct a search for example, it was not always clear that a redirect had recurred when I was automatically redirected to the results page.
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: LWW Journals
eResource Type: eJournals
Vendor: Wolters Kluwer Health
Institution: Mohawk
Score: B+

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
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes There are instances of empty form labels, multiple form labels, and orphaned form labels. This was consistent across multiple pages assessed.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always If the user is familiar with searching databases and the terminology associated, then yes.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes Labels are not always above the user input fields
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes When using different input fields on different pages, users are not consistently provided an opportunity (or given any indication that a possible error was made) to correct things like spelling 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
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always
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? Always

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 Some of the search functions on different pages do suggest that there could be an error in spelling (see example attached), however, there is no auto-fill with drop-down options in the search bar or spelling suggestions on the results page.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes In a visual assessment of icons for the search function, it is not always consistent. On some pages, it is a 'search' button and on other pages, it is a 'magnifying glass' icon.
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? Sometimes There are differences overall in the OVID interface. For example, the navigation of the 'Journal' tab and the 'Book tab' are not consistent in layout and navigation. However, when navigating 'OVID Full Text' of LWW journals within the interface, there is consistency in layout and navigation.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Sometimes The search fields for the various tabs i.e. main search page, journals, books, and multimedia are not consistently in the same place.
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? Sometimes There are instances of buttons and other components that have ARIA labels where the content is hidden and not presented to screen readers.

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 Links for Email, Cite, and Print open automatically in pop-up windows. When images are selected within 'OVID Full Text' of LWW journal articles, they open in a pop-up window with links that then open in a new tab automatically.
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? Sometimes I did not find instances of pop-ups that users are able to postpose, only suppress. Although the majority of pop-ups are able to be suppressed, I found an instance of a pop-up that where this was not an option.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes There were instances of empty headings.
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? 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
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Sometimes When I used a screen reader to conduct a search for example, it was not always clear that a redirect had recurred when I was automatically redirected to the results page.

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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