Assessment for HeinOnline 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: There are visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Not all input fields contain labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Though some labels are missing, the surrounding descriptions remain clear and understandable for users.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Mixture of labels placed beside the corresponding field and above it.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: A red text cue will appear at the top of the form if the user fails to enter the required information correctly..
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No visual indicator is present in any of the field forms.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: If a user enters an incorrect phrase or leaves the search field empty, results will still be displayed. However, when incorrect login information is entered, an error message will appear, allowing the user to try again.
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: An error message does not appear when signing in with incorrect credentials. Instead, the user is redirected to the My Library sign-in page without any indication of an error. This has been tested under the MyHein Profile. However, if a user is signing up and either enters incorrect information or forgets to fill out required fields, an error message will appear.However, an error message does appear if a user is trying to sign-up and puts or forgets to add information when creating an account.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: An error message does appear if a user is trying to sign-up and puts or forgets to add information when creating an account.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: It is not possible to correct the error if an incorrect email address or password is entered after an account has already been created, at least when the library is signed in.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Only if the user is creating a new account.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When it allows user to correct errors.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: When entering misspelled word in the search field suggestions come up in a drop-down menu. However, there is no suggested correct spelling offered.
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: The search button is represented by a magnifying glass icon and is located in the header of the database. "Search" serves as a placeholder in the search field.
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:
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The layout and navigation is consistent throughout the database. The same information and links appears in the header on all pages.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: What’s New, Help, Account and MyHein Profile menus and links all appear in the header of every page.
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.
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:
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are heading errors.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Headings that are included are clear and concise.
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 most of the 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: HeinOnline
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: William S. Hein
Institution: St. Clair
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? Always There are visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Not all input fields contain labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Though some labels are missing, the surrounding descriptions remain clear and understandable for users.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes Mixture of labels placed beside the corresponding field and above it.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Always A red text cue will appear at the top of the form if the user fails to enter the required information correctly..
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never No visual indicator is present in any of the field forms.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes If a user enters an incorrect phrase or leaves the search field empty, results will still be displayed. However, when incorrect login information is entered, an error message will appear, allowing the user to try again.

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 An error message does not appear when signing in with incorrect credentials. Instead, the user is redirected to the My Library sign-in page without any indication of an error. This has been tested under the MyHein Profile. However, if a user is signing up and either enters incorrect information or forgets to fill out required fields, an error message will appear.However, an error message does appear if a user is trying to sign-up and puts or forgets to add information when creating an account.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes An error message does appear if a user is trying to sign-up and puts or forgets to add information when creating an account.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Sometimes It is not possible to correct the error if an incorrect email address or password is entered after an account has already been created, at least when the library is signed in.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Sometimes Only if the user is creating a new account.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Sometimes When it allows user to correct errors.

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 When entering misspelled word in the search field suggestions come up in a drop-down menu. However, there is no suggested correct spelling offered.

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 The search button is represented by a magnifying glass icon and is located in the header of the database. "Search" serves as a placeholder in the search field.
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
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always The layout and navigation is consistent throughout the database. The same information and links appears in the header on all pages.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always What’s New, Help, Account and MyHein Profile menus and links all appear in the header of every page.
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.
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

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes There are heading errors.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always Headings that are included are clear and concise.

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 most of the 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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