Assessment for Academic Search Premier by St. Clair - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by kdaigneau@stcl… 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: Input fields have clear labels and visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Input fields contain labels.
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: However, most of the labels are beside the fields rather than above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The coloured text cue appears beneath the input field when the user has not filled out the form properly.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is no asterisk symbol that appears for the required form fields. However, a red ! appears with the text “Please enter valid…” in red when the user has not properly filled out the fields.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: If nothing is typed in the Advanced or Basic search fields, users will not be able to click on the search button as it is greyed out until something is in the input fields.
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: If users put in the wrong information the fields when trying to sign-in there is a warning above the sign-in box.
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: For example: in the create account form, if a proper email address and password is not entered into the field there is an alert underneath in red telling the user that the information entered is not valid.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Resource indicates spelling errors, offers spelling suggestions and synonyms.
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: 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 layout and navigation is consistent throughout the database. “My dashboard” appears in the left column on all pages, and the search bar appears at the top of all pages other than the advance search page. The same information appears in the footer on all pages, etc.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Search fields appear at the top of each with the exception of the advance search page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: My dashboard appears in the left column. Privacy policy, terms of use, institutional logout, manage my cookies links and copyright information appears in the footer.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Pop-up windows are avoided. Many links such as the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use automatically open in a new tab. The same is true with videos which appear at the bottom of the results page.
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: No pop-ups appear.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: No pop-up appear.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All headings are tagged appropriately and no errors appear.
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: There are a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: For the drop-down menus in the filters, there are usually between 5 and 10 options. Some do have more, depending on the research topic and whether filters have been used to narrow the search.
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 with screen reader and keyboard navigation.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is an “Apply” button for the filters. However, some of the filters do update automatically such as Full-Text, Peer Reviewed, and Time menu as the additional filters.
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: Academic Search Premier
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
Institution: St. Clair
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
  • Page content 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 Input fields have clear labels and visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always Input fields contain labels.
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 However, most of the labels are beside the fields rather than above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes The coloured text cue appears beneath the input field when the user has not filled out the form properly.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes There is no asterisk symbol that appears for the required form fields. However, a red ! appears with the text “Please enter valid…” in red when the user has not properly filled out the fields.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always If nothing is typed in the Advanced or Basic search fields, users will not be able to click on the search button as it is greyed out until something is in the input fields.

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 If users put in the wrong information the fields when trying to sign-in there is a warning above the sign-in box.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always For example: in the create account form, if a proper email address and password is not entered into the field there is an alert underneath in red telling the user that the information entered is not valid.
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? Always Resource indicates spelling errors, offers spelling suggestions and synonyms.

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? 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 layout and navigation is consistent throughout the database. “My dashboard” appears in the left column on all pages, and the search bar appears at the top of all pages other than the advance search page. The same information appears in the footer on all pages, etc.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Search fields appear at the top of each with the exception of the advance search page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always My dashboard appears in the left column. Privacy policy, terms of use, institutional logout, manage my cookies links and copyright information appears in the footer.
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? Always Pop-up windows are avoided. Many links such as the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use automatically open in a new tab. The same is true with videos which appear at the bottom of the results page.
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 No pop-ups appear.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always No pop-up appear.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always All headings are tagged appropriately and no errors appear.
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 There are a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always For the drop-down menus in the filters, there are usually between 5 and 10 options. Some do have more, depending on the research topic and whether filters have been used to narrow the search.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always All menus and submenus are accessible with screen reader and keyboard navigation.

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? Always There is an “Apply” button for the filters. However, some of the filters do update automatically such as Full-Text, Peer Reviewed, and Time menu as the additional filters.
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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