Assessment for Canadian Points of View Reference Source by Humber - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Jason.Rouatt@h… 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: Header search includes guidance text and help; advanced fields rely on nearby titles.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No required field. Blank or failed searches show red messages.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No fields are mandatory.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users can revisit and modify past searches via Search History.
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: Only the login form exists. Wrong entries require retrying, institutional students bypass it.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Entering initial characters in the query box can trigger predictive entries, plus typo fixes and occasional equivalent wording, varying by lookup.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Record view: tool glyphs cluster right edge; portable-document save option plus browser-text view sit left edge. Top banner shows ? guidance symbol adjacent query control across all screens.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Each symbol category uses uniform, easily understood descriptive text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Query control stays fixed within top banner across all navigation.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Symbols paired with nearby URLs only intermittently follow a uniform pattern.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Most icons display nearby labels; solely the question mark symbol alongside the top-bar control functions as guidance.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Across the entire platform, structure and wayfinding remain uniform on every screen.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Query inputs occupy a fixed position; primary lookup box stays anchored atop every screen
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Upper strip splits options left/right: lookup, journals, topics, media, A-Z; login, saved list, settings, support, logout. Lower strip shows provider portal plus legal statements: confidentiality, usage conditions, rights, tracking.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Header row anchors query control; entry screens show tool icons plus download/web-view choices along right edge. Left panel lists supplemental materials (opposing viewpoints, evaluation aid, visuals, librarian supports, course benchmarks); further left sections beneath metadata surface extra context plus lookalike matches.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Typically, destinations load within the current browser view. A small set instead launches in a separate browser context: everything in the page-bottom area, the course-standards entry inside the resource-shelf panel on the landing screen, and the supplemental-links panel beside full-text records.
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: There are no op-ups
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:
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: The primary menu and its pull-down lists include a manageable, sensible set of options.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Any adjustments to filter settings trigger immediate, automatic refreshes of the 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: Canadian Points of View Reference Source
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
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? Always Header search includes guidance text and help; advanced fields rely on nearby titles.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable No required field. Blank or failed searches show red messages.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable No fields are mandatory.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Users can revisit and modify past searches via Search History.

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 Only the login form exists. Wrong entries require retrying, institutional students bypass it.
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? Always Entering initial characters in the query box can trigger predictive entries, plus typo fixes and occasional equivalent wording, varying by lookup.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always Record view: tool glyphs cluster right edge; portable-document save option plus browser-text view sit left edge. Top banner shows ? guidance symbol adjacent query control across all screens.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always Each symbol category uses uniform, easily understood descriptive text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always Query control stays fixed within top banner across all navigation.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Sometimes Symbols paired with nearby URLs only intermittently follow a uniform pattern.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always Most icons display nearby labels; solely the question mark symbol alongside the top-bar control functions as guidance.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always Across the entire platform, structure and wayfinding remain uniform on every screen.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Query inputs occupy a fixed position; primary lookup box stays anchored atop every screen
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always Upper strip splits options left/right: lookup, journals, topics, media, A-Z; login, saved list, settings, support, logout. Lower strip shows provider portal plus legal statements: confidentiality, usage conditions, rights, tracking.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always Header row anchors query control; entry screens show tool icons plus download/web-view choices along right edge. Left panel lists supplemental materials (opposing viewpoints, evaluation aid, visuals, librarian supports, course benchmarks); further left sections beneath metadata surface extra context plus lookalike matches.

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? Sometimes Typically, destinations load within the current browser view. A small set instead launches in a separate browser context: everything in the page-bottom area, the course-standards entry inside the resource-shelf panel on the landing screen, and the supplemental-links panel beside full-text records.
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 There are no op-ups
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
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 The primary menu and its pull-down lists include a manageable, sensible set of options.
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? Never Any adjustments to filter settings trigger immediate, automatic refreshes of the 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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