Assessment for IEEExplore 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: Yes. Input fields have clear, visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All input fields contain labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Descriptions for fields and boxes are consistently clear and easy to understand, providing users with necessary guidance.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Most labels are beside the fields rather than above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The user cannot proceed with the form unless all required fields are completed correctly. Additionally, a warning appears if an invalid username or password is entered during login.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: A red asterisk symbol appears as the visual indicator for the form fields that require filling out.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: If a user enters an incorrect phrase or word, they will receive a message indicating that the database could not find any results. If the search form is left empty, an error message will appear. The same occurs if incorrect credentials are entered during login, triggering an error message.
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: The user receives an alert message above the input fields stating, "Please enter a valid username or password."
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: 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 icon, represented by a magnifying glass, appears in the header on every page.
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. The same information and links appears in the header and footer on all pages, etc.
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: Product/Profile/Purchase Details , Copyright, Terms of Use, Privacy links along with contact information and social media icons all appear in the footer of the database.
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: 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: 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: Drop-down menus have reasonable amount of items.
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: IEEExplore
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: IEEE
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 Yes. Input fields have clear, visible instructions to guide users.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always All input fields contain labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Descriptions for fields and boxes are consistently clear and easy to understand, providing users with necessary guidance.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always Most labels are beside the fields rather than above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Always The user cannot proceed with the form unless all required fields are completed correctly. Additionally, a warning appears if an invalid username or password is entered during login.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always A red asterisk symbol appears as the visual indicator for the form fields that require filling out.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always If a user enters an incorrect phrase or word, they will receive a message indicating that the database could not find any results. If the search form is left empty, an error message will appear. The same occurs if incorrect credentials are entered during login, triggering an error message.

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 The user receives an alert message above the input fields stating, "Please enter a valid username or password."
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 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 icon, represented by a magnifying glass, appears in the header on every page.
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. The same information and links appears in the header and footer on all pages, etc.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always Product/Profile/Purchase Details , Copyright, Terms of Use, Privacy links along with contact information and social media icons all appear in the footer of the database.
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 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? 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 Drop-down menus have reasonable amount of items.
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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