Assessment for GoinGlobal by Conestoga - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Kcaporiccio@co… 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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is one exception to this and it is the "Search content" box on the right side of the page. It does not contain a label, but it does contain an H2 that signifies it is a search box (this could make issues for the screen reader as it is not a label).
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search forms do include some additional instructions ex: "For more results, try separate searches using both English and the local language keyword, for example "Architect" and "Architekt."" but they do not include helpful instructions like "required fields are marked with *"
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: 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: While it underlines the misspelled word, it does not include a drop down or offer suggestions once the search has been completed. However if right clicked there are suggestions offered (I am unsure if this is a general feature of chrome or the actual database offering this as an option).
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: This database acts more like a directory to outside resources. The documents provided in the database are linked to third party websites that are not related to GoinGlobal. This is why I have labelled this as "not applicable" as there are no "save, download, print" options on the website that are from GoinGlobal.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: See above for the same reasoning.
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: 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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The nature of this database is like a directory- when a user selects the link for the information they are looking for it opens in a new tab. This is consistent across the entire database. It is rare if a link stays in the same tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There are no pop-ups when the database loads.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: When a link is selected there is no way to stop the new tab from opening. Beyond this though the database does not appear to have any pop-up windows, just the new tabs.
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: For the most part headings H1 and H2 are used appropriately. Occasionally the headings are omitted when they would make sense. For example on the career guides - global city career guides page the "Global City Career Guides" (title of the page) is listed as an H1 header however the following sections "Europe" "Asia-Pacific" etc are not labelled as headings at all.

The only other pages where this occurs is when the content below the H1 heading is a form.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When the headings are used the labelling is accurate.
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: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There is only one search box on the website. There is no ability to filter or select alternative options. Even the search/advance search for job postings does not include filter options. However the search/advanced search does not reset, remains on the side of the page, and can be adjusted at any time.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: In order to trigger a new page something must be selected.
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: The user must click or press enter to trigger a form submission.
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: GoinGlobal
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Institution: Conestoga
Score: A-

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages
  • User input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form

Weaknesses

  • 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? Always
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always There is one exception to this and it is the "Search content" box on the right side of the page. It does not contain a label, but it does contain an H2 that signifies it is a search box (this could make issues for the screen reader as it is not a label).
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes The search forms do include some additional instructions ex: "For more results, try separate searches using both English and the local language keyword, for example "Architect" and "Architekt."" but they do not include helpful instructions like "required fields are marked with *"
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? 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 While it underlines the misspelled word, it does not include a drop down or offer suggestions once the search has been completed. However if right clicked there are suggestions offered (I am unsure if this is a general feature of chrome or the actual database offering this as an option).

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Not Applicable This database acts more like a directory to outside resources. The documents provided in the database are linked to third party websites that are not related to GoinGlobal. This is why I have labelled this as "not applicable" as there are no "save, download, print" options on the website that are from GoinGlobal.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Not Applicable See above for the same reasoning.
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? 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? Never The nature of this database is like a directory- when a user selects the link for the information they are looking for it opens in a new tab. This is consistent across the entire database. It is rare if a link stays in the same tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always There are no pop-ups when the database loads.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Never When a link is selected there is no way to stop the new tab from opening. Beyond this though the database does not appear to have any pop-up windows, just the new tabs.
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 For the most part headings H1 and H2 are used appropriately. Occasionally the headings are omitted when they would make sense. For example on the career guides - global city career guides page the "Global City Career Guides" (title of the page) is listed as an H1 header however the following sections "Europe" "Asia-Pacific" etc are not labelled as headings at all. The only other pages where this occurs is when the content below the H1 heading is a form.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always When the headings are used the labelling is accurate.

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? Not Applicable There is only one search box on the website. There is no ability to filter or select alternative options. Even the search/advance search for job postings does not include filter options. However the search/advanced search does not reset, remains on the side of the page, and can be adjusted at any time.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always In order to trigger a new page something must be selected.

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Never The user must click or press enter to trigger a form submission.
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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