Assessment for Oxford Reference by Humber - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by stefanie.read@… 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: The Search option on every page only has placeholder text. The advanced search could be better fleshed out. You can "refine terms" and select from a drop-down from book to full text with your term. There is also an option to add a row, but this would not be entirely clear to a non-library user.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is only 1 or 2 missing form labels on each page according to wave, but I can't determine what they are - there are no missing form labels for search, username and all other key labels that I can see. I've attached an example
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: Some are placed beside the user input field and some are labelled above the user input field.
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: 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Sometimes it will say did you mean "xyz" but not all the time. It does indicate the word is mispelled with a red line underneath and if you right click it offers suggestions for spelling
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It didn't seem like there was alt text for most icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some of the action items aren't labelled, such as when you use the main search bar or an icon. The advanced search is labelled and allows you to refine your terms, by title, person, isbn etc.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no adjacent links as far as I can tell, just icons.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Every single time you load a page you have to accept cookies, I'm not sure if that's my browser or a consistent feature of the website but it's very frustrating
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: You have to click accept all to the cookies
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: The headings seem to follow the appropriate hierarchical structure but they are not always in order.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The keyboard navigation is seamless, the screen reader is not. I navigated with difficulty.
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:
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: Oxford Reference
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Oxford University Press
Institution: Humber
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? Sometimes The Search option on every page only has placeholder text. The advanced search could be better fleshed out. You can "refine terms" and select from a drop-down from book to full text with your term. There is also an option to add a row, but this would not be entirely clear to a non-library user.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always There is only 1 or 2 missing form labels on each page according to wave, but I can't determine what they are - there are no missing form labels for search, username and all other key labels that I can see. I've attached an example
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 Some are placed beside the user input field and some are labelled above the user input field.
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? 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? Sometimes Sometimes it will say did you mean "xyz" but not all the time. It does indicate the word is mispelled with a red line underneath and if you right click it offers suggestions for spelling

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? Never It didn't seem like there was alt text for most icons.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes Some of the action items aren't labelled, such as when you use the main search bar or an icon. The advanced search is labelled and allows you to refine your terms, by title, person, isbn etc.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Not Applicable There are no adjacent links as far as I can tell, just icons.
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? Always
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Never Every single time you load a page you have to accept cookies, I'm not sure if that's my browser or a consistent feature of the website but it's very frustrating
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Never You have to click accept all to the cookies
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 The headings seem to follow the appropriate hierarchical structure but they are not always in order.
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? Sometimes The keyboard navigation is seamless, the screen reader is not. I navigated with difficulty.

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
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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