Assessment for ABI/INFORM Global by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by ahawkins@fansh… 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 search bar includes only placeholder text that disappears when the user begins typing their search query. Advanced search bars are empty.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: WAVE is identifying ARIA labels throughout.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Labels are only available in the advanced search feature and they are placed to the left of the user input fields.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: These features do appear in the "Create an Account" feature (which most students are likely not accessing) but they do not appear in the search fields.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: These features do appear in the "Create an Account" feature (which most students are likely not accessing) but they do not appear in the search fields.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users are able to reverse/modify their search terms without losing the original keywords. The searches are not checked or confirmed before submission.
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 "Create an Account" feature does have a clear error message box at the top of the page.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The details in the error report/message do not follow the same reading order as the form.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Spelling suggestions are included on the results page with a "Did You Mean..." feature.
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: Not Applicable
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: If students want to export the selected article(s), they may be redirected to a pop-up window that will require them to login to their Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive accounts, for example.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: For the pop-up windows that do occur, they do not include regular browser features like back or forward buttons, refresh, etc.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some menus contain clear headings and the content within them is easily identifiable. However, icons are also classified as headings, with sub-headings, which might not be assumed by the user (e.g. the "Cite" button contains headings and sub-headings which may not be apparent at first glance).
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: Filters automatically update the search results.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
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: ABI/INFORM Global
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: ProQuest
Institution: Fanshawe
Score: B-

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form
  • Page content sometimes has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

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 search bar includes only placeholder text that disappears when the user begins typing their search query. Advanced search bars are empty.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always WAVE is identifying ARIA labels throughout.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Not Applicable
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never Labels are only available in the advanced search feature and they are placed to the left of the user input fields.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes These features do appear in the "Create an Account" feature (which most students are likely not accessing) but they do not appear in the search fields.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes These features do appear in the "Create an Account" feature (which most students are likely not accessing) but they do not appear in the search fields.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Users are able to reverse/modify their search terms without losing the original keywords. The searches are not checked or confirmed before submission.

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 "Create an Account" feature does have a clear error message box at the top of the page.
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? Never The details in the error report/message do not follow the same reading order as the form.

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 Spelling suggestions are included on the results page with a "Did You Mean..." feature.

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? Not Applicable
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? Sometimes If students want to export the selected article(s), they may be redirected to a pop-up window that will require them to login to their Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive accounts, for example.
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? Never
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Never For the pop-up windows that do occur, they do not include regular browser features like back or forward buttons, refresh, etc.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Sometimes Some menus contain clear headings and the content within them is easily identifiable. However, icons are also classified as headings, with sub-headings, which might not be assumed by the user (e.g. the "Cite" button contains headings and sub-headings which may not be apparent at first glance).

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 Filters automatically update the search results.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Never

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