Assessment for Canadian Major Dailies Recent Searches Selected Items My Research and Language Selection by St. Clair - Module 2: Interface Navigation

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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: User input fields are accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: User input fields feature clear labels alongside the provided instructions.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Descriptions for fields and boxes are mostly present and easy to understand
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Labels are placed above the input fields and clearly associated with each corresponding field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is one instance found with a coloured text cue in “Create an Account form”. The colour cue is in red and states “Required*”.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The addition visual indicators used is the asterisk.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: User input fields have checked and confirm setup. If there is information missing from any of the required fields a validation error box will appear describing the possible errors. The form also provides a clear form button for the user to restart the process. A verification email is also sent to the user to confirm and ensure they have setup their account properly.
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: The validation error box appear at the top of 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: Yes. If users put in information that is not correct such as email address or password, an alert will in the validation error box in the Create an Account. The errors will appear under the input field in the Sign-in form.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users are alerted to make corrections in the required fields before submission.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Users are able to resubmit and re-validate their submission for forms such as signing in or signing up. In the contact form, unless the users make a noted mistake before submission they will not be able to resubmit. However, they are drawn immediately to any potential mistakes for required fields where valid information is not included such as email addresses.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Before a user can finish typing in their keywords, spelling and synonym suggestions appear. Users are given the option to turn off the autocomplete feature. Any misspelled words that cannot produce an alternative option do have the classic red squiggly line as an indicator.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Icons do appear consistent across the site.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The icons do have clear and consistent alt text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the search button is labelled and consistently placed across the database.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, icons with adjacent links are consistent.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes. The purpose of the link can be determined by the text.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The search button and navigational page links all appear in the same are, column on the left side. All the important information such as terms of use, about link all appear in the footer that continues across each page.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Search field mainly remains in the same place throughout the database towards the top of several pages. But it does slightly change depending on the purpose of the page. Not every page contains the search field.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Located in the footer.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All components are consistently labeled.
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: Found no instances of pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Found no instances of pop-ups.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Found no instances of pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The database avoids launching new pages in browser windows.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most headings are tagged and follow a logical structure. However, there are some instances where the headings are not appropriately tagged.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Headings are clear, concise, and accurately reflect the proceeding content or section.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Drop-down menus do contain a reasonable number of items overall.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Some exceed ten options. However, these menus are necessary as they serve as filters for specific research purposes and subject matters such as date ranges.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All menus and submenus are accessible via keyboard and screen reader.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The results page and item record view avoid opening in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users have to click on the links or buttons for the filters to be applied. The only Update button is with the date range. There is no automatic updating of content.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The database does avoid automatic redirection by moving to another page.
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Forms avoid automatically submitting when receiving focus.
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes. The database avoids launching into new windows or tabs when components receive focus.
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The database consistently prevents changes in focus when a component receives focus.
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: Keyboard navigation allows users to tab through elements on a page without the focus moving away from the currently selected control.
eResource: Canadian Major Dailies
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: ProQuest
Institution: St. Clair
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 User input fields are accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always User input fields feature clear labels alongside the provided instructions.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Descriptions for fields and boxes are mostly present and easy to understand
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always Labels are placed above the input fields and clearly associated with each corresponding field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes There is one instance found with a coloured text cue in “Create an Account form”. The colour cue is in red and states “Required*”.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always The addition visual indicators used is the asterisk.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always User input fields have checked and confirm setup. If there is information missing from any of the required fields a validation error box will appear describing the possible errors. The form also provides a clear form button for the user to restart the process. A verification email is also sent to the user to confirm and ensure they have setup their account properly.

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 The validation error box appear at the top of 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 Yes. If users put in information that is not correct such as email address or password, an alert will in the validation error box in the Create an Account. The errors will appear under the input field in the Sign-in form.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always Users are alerted to make corrections in the required fields before submission.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Sometimes Users are able to resubmit and re-validate their submission for forms such as signing in or signing up. In the contact form, unless the users make a noted mistake before submission they will not be able to resubmit. However, they are drawn immediately to any potential mistakes for required fields where valid information is not included such as email addresses.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always Error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Always Before a user can finish typing in their keywords, spelling and synonym suggestions appear. Users are given the option to turn off the autocomplete feature. Any misspelled words that cannot produce an alternative option do have the classic red squiggly line as an indicator.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

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

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always The search button and navigational page links all appear in the same are, column on the left side. All the important information such as terms of use, about link all appear in the footer that continues across each page.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Search field mainly remains in the same place throughout the database towards the top of several pages. But it does slightly change depending on the purpose of the page. Not every page contains the search field.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always Located in the footer.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always All components are consistently labeled.

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 Found no instances of pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always Found no instances of pop-ups.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Not Applicable Found no instances of pop-ups.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always The database avoids launching new pages in browser windows.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes Most headings are tagged and follow a logical structure. However, there are some instances where the headings are not appropriately tagged.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always Headings are clear, concise, and accurately reflect the proceeding content or section.

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always Drop-down menus do contain a reasonable number of items overall.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always Some exceed ten options. However, these menus are necessary as they serve as filters for specific research purposes and subject matters such as date ranges.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always All menus and submenus are accessible via keyboard and 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? Always The results page and item record view avoid opening in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Always Users have to click on the links or buttons for the filters to be applied. The only Update button is with the date range. There is no automatic updating of content.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always The database does avoid automatic redirection by moving to another page.

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always Forms avoid automatically submitting when receiving focus.
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always Yes. The database avoids launching into new windows or tabs when components receive focus.
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always The database consistently prevents changes in focus when a component receives focus.
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always Keyboard navigation allows users to tab through elements on a page without the focus moving away from the currently selected control.
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