Assessment for Oxford Handbooks Online by Georgian - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Shaun.MacNeil@… 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: User input fields for login and registration fields have clear instructions, the search and advanced search fields do not have instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Search field does not have a label associated with it. The other user input fields for login or registering do have labels associated with it.
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: The labels are not always above the user input field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Required fields have "required" in red text for fields that must be filled in.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No other visual indicators used on the site.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: User input fields are checked or reversible.
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: Alert messages are through dialog 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: Alert messages indicate the field with the error an how to fix the error.
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: When a user spells a word wrong, the search function does not offer suggestions.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Icons such as cite, permissions and share are all consistent throughout the site.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Alt text is consistent for each of the icons.
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: No adjacent links
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: Navigation and layout is consistent through out all the pages.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Search fields are located on the top right of each page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Elements on the page are in the same place when they appear.
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:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Some pages like the search result page does not have a H1 heading and some headings are not ordered in a logical manner. Records, homepage and content are all logically ordered and headings
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: Oxford Handbooks Online has very few menu options. The few I was able to find was a drop down for subjects and the table of contents in ebooks.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some options only update when the "Update button" is clicked. Other options int he results page will automatically update when a filter is selected.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When users select a record that has a new edition, a window appears to alert the user, allowing if they choose to go to that new edition or stay on the one they clicked on initially.
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: Oxford Handbooks Online
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Oxford University Press
Institution: Georgian
Score: A

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? Sometimes User input fields for login and registration fields have clear instructions, the search and advanced search fields do not have instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Search field does not have a label associated with it. The other user input fields for login or registering do have labels associated with it.
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 The labels are not always above the user input field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Always Required fields have "required" in red text for fields that must be filled in.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable No other visual indicators used on the site.

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 are checked or reversible.

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 Alert messages are through dialog box.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always Alert messages indicate the field with the error an how to fix the error.
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 When a user spells a word wrong, the search function does not offer suggestions.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always Icons such as cite, permissions and share are all consistent throughout the site.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always Alt text is consistent for each of the icons.
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 No adjacent links
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 Navigation and layout is consistent through out all the pages.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Search fields are located on the top right of each page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always Elements on the page are in the same place when they appear.
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
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? Always
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 Some pages like the search result page does not have a H1 heading and some headings are not ordered in a logical manner. Records, homepage and content are all logically ordered and headings
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 Oxford Handbooks Online has very few menu options. The few I was able to find was a drop down for subjects and the table of contents in ebooks.
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? Sometimes Some options only update when the "Update button" is clicked. Other options int he results page will automatically update when a filter is selected.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always When users select a record that has a new edition, a window appears to alert the user, allowing if they choose to go to that new edition or stay on the one they clicked on initially.

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