Assessment for SocIndex 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:
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: input names were not distinguished solely by hue, so added written clarification was unnecessary.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: the forms reviewed did not use mandatory-entry markers, so no consistent secondary indicator...such as a star symbol...was needed.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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:
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: 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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Certain selections appear outside the current browser view: media playback, web-storage authentication, and portable-document export launch in separate browser contexts.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Separate browser panels appear solely upon manual activation of the associated control.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Fresh browser views...used for media playback or cloud-account authentication—provided no navigational controls, showing solely a URL field.
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: Most selections loaded within the existing browser view, yet certain media entries launched another browser page without notice.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Choosing a refinement caused the displayed results to refresh immediately.
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: SocIndex
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 no images
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always no images
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always no images
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always no images
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable input names were not distinguished solely by hue, so added written clarification was unnecessary. no images
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable the forms reviewed did not use mandatory-entry markers, so no consistent secondary indicator...such as a star symbol...was needed. no images

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always no images

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 no images
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always no images
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always no images
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always no images
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always no images

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 no images

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always no images
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always no images
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always no images
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always no images
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always no images

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always no images
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always no images
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always no images
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always no images

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 Certain selections appear outside the current browser view: media playback, web-storage authentication, and portable-document export launch in separate browser contexts. no images
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always Separate browser panels appear solely upon manual activation of the associated control. no images
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Never no images
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Never Fresh browser views...used for media playback or cloud-account authentication—provided no navigational controls, showing solely a URL field. no images

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always no images
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always no images

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always no images
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always no images
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always no images

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 Most selections loaded within the existing browser view, yet certain media entries launched another browser page without notice. no images
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never Choosing a refinement caused the displayed results to refresh immediately. no images
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always no images

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always no images
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always no images
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always no images
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