Assessment for Grove Music Online by Mohawk - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by karen.wilson-d… 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: When you need to 'Create a personal profile', most spaces are clearly labelled using common terminology.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Missing form label in the 'Create a personal profile' form on the reCAPTCHA box.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: With the exception of reCAPTCHA, other labels seem to be well placed.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
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: 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: 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: If the reCAPTCHA is not checked, the error message is that it is incorrect. It does not indicate how to fix it.
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: Due to the nature of this database, suggestions for spelling would be unhelpful and likely not provide any meaningful suggestions. As this database has a wealth of information about actual musicians, surnames can be used to search.
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: Noted differences in the floppy disc icon.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The floppy disc icon on the results page has a label of 'save' while the same icon on an individual results page has a label 'save article to your personal profile'. Although ultimately both function in the same way, saving to a personal profile, the wording between the icons could be problematic.
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: 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: As noted earlier, the floppy disc icon is labelled differently but functions in the same manner.
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: There are not pop-ups within this resource.
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: Heading 2 shows how the student is signed into the database. There is information here to sign into an additional subscriber account. Although this information is important, it does not seem to be a relevant heading to navigate content on the page.
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: The tabs along the top of the main page do have additional menus that are only activated once the button has been pressed.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The number of items vary in each of the tabs. Also, when you use the Browse All feature within the drop down, you are directed to the Advanced Search page.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: However, when accessing the different menus extraneous text was read aloud that did not contribute to the understanding of the menu and could detract from it.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is no update now button within this resource.
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: Grove Music Online
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Oxford University Press
Institution: Mohawk
Score: A-

Key Findings

Weaknesses

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is somewhat consistent across all pages
  • 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? Sometimes When you need to 'Create a personal profile', most spaces are clearly labelled using common terminology.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Missing form label in the 'Create a personal profile' form on the reCAPTCHA box.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes With the exception of reCAPTCHA, other labels seem to be well placed.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Always
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. 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? Always
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes If the reCAPTCHA is not checked, the error message is that it is incorrect. It does not indicate how to fix it.
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 Due to the nature of this database, suggestions for spelling would be unhelpful and likely not provide any meaningful suggestions. As this database has a wealth of information about actual musicians, surnames can be used to search.

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 Noted differences in the floppy disc icon.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes The floppy disc icon on the results page has a label of 'save' while the same icon on an individual results page has a label 'save article to your personal profile'. Although ultimately both function in the same way, saving to a personal profile, the wording between the icons could be problematic.
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? 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? Sometimes As noted earlier, the floppy disc icon is labelled differently but functions in the same manner.

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 There are not pop-ups within this resource.
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 Heading 2 shows how the student is signed into the database. There is information here to sign into an additional subscriber account. Although this information is important, it does not seem to be a relevant heading to navigate content on the page.
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 The tabs along the top of the main page do have additional menus that are only activated once the button has been pressed.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Sometimes The number of items vary in each of the tabs. Also, when you use the Browse All feature within the drop down, you are directed to the Advanced Search page.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always However, when accessing the different menus extraneous text was read aloud that did not contribute to the understanding of the menu and could detract from it.

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? Not Applicable There is no update now button within this resource.
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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