Assessment for Africa Commons by University of Toronto - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by allie.landy@ma… 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: User input fields (including search, login, email list sign up) are labeled using placeholder text that disappears when the user begins typing.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Fields do not include labels apart from placeholder text.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Simple language is used in labels.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Labels seems to only be present as placeholder text within user input fields.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: Forms do not indicate required fields.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no other visual indicators.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: For fields with format requirements (e.g. email requires an "@"), fields are checked and cannot be submitted until the error is addressed.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: On login form, an error with the email or password is noted at the top of the form, but it appears in small, red text with poor contrast. In other places, the messages appear in a dialogue box or below the field that has an error.
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 checked fields, a clear description of the error is provided. The login notes that there is an error with the email and/or password.
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: The main search bar does not provide spelling suggestions for typos or errors.
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: Icons are always accompanied with text.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Resources are accessed through links to external sites, so resources sometimes appear with different controls on a different platform. Controls are consistent across the main website and within collections that are accessed on the same platform.
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:
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: Pop-ups do not appear on the platform.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Individual resources open in a new tab on a different platform without the ability to navigate back within the same tab.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Search results and navigation within the platform do not open new tabs. Viewing resources navigates to a third-party platform in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Filters are automatically applied to search results.
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: Africa Commons
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Score: B+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • The platform’s layout and navigation is consistent across all pages
  • Page content has appropriate headers and is tagged appropriately

Weaknesses

  • Some user input fields contain labels and clear instructions to help users successfully complete the form

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 User input fields (including search, login, email list sign up) are labeled using placeholder text that disappears when the user begins typing.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Never Fields do not include labels apart from placeholder text.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Simple language is used in labels.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never Labels seems to only be present as placeholder text within user input fields.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable Forms do not indicate required fields.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable There are no other visual indicators.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes For fields with format requirements (e.g. email requires an "@"), fields are checked and cannot be submitted until the error is addressed.

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? Sometimes On login form, an error with the email or password is noted at the top of the form, but it appears in small, red text with poor contrast. In other places, the messages appear in a dialogue box or below the field that has an error.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always For checked fields, a clear description of the error is provided. The login notes that there is an error with the email and/or password.
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 The main search bar does not provide spelling suggestions for typos or errors.

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 Icons are always accompanied with text.
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? Sometimes Resources are accessed through links to external sites, so resources sometimes appear with different controls on a different platform. Controls are consistent across the main website and within collections that are accessed on the same platform.
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? 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 Pop-ups do not appear on the platform.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes Individual resources open in a new tab on a different platform without the ability to navigate back within the same tab.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always
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
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? Sometimes Search results and navigation within the platform do not open new tabs. Viewing resources navigates to a third-party platform in a new tab.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never Filters are automatically applied to search results.
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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