Assessment for DSM Legacy Collection by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by ahawkins@fansh… 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: Basic instructions are present (e.g., search bar usage), but more complex forms (advanced search, account creation) lack detailed guidance. Placeholder text is sometimes used instead of full instructions.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Many labels are correctly positioned above fields, though some labels appear beside or inside.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some required fields are indicated visually (e.g., colour). Text-based indicators (e.g., “required”) are not always consistent.

Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Asterisks appear in some forms but not consistently.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Error messages appear, but visibility varies depending on the form.
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: Some messages indicate what went wrong, but instructions for fixing errors are not always detailed
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: Some spelling correction or suggestions appear on results page.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Icons are generally consistent but there is limited use across the platform

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: Some actions open new tabs without clear warning.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some pop-ups can be closed, but control is not always clear.
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: General structure exists, but occasional skipped heading levels

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: Some menus are not fully keyboard accessible and require mouse interaction
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some links open new tabs unexpectedly.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Minor inconsistencies in keyboard navigation. Focus may not always follow logical order.
eResource: DSM Legacy Collection
eResource Type: eBooks
Vendor: American Psychiatric Association
Institution: Fanshawe
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? Sometimes Basic instructions are present (e.g., search bar usage), but more complex forms (advanced search, account creation) lack detailed guidance. Placeholder text is sometimes used instead of full instructions.
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? Sometimes Many labels are correctly positioned above fields, though some labels appear beside or inside.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Sometimes Some required fields are indicated visually (e.g., colour). Text-based indicators (e.g., “required”) are not always consistent.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes Asterisks appear in some forms but not consistently.

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? Sometimes Error messages appear, but visibility varies depending on the form.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes Some messages indicate what went wrong, but instructions for fixing errors are not always detailed
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 Some spelling correction or suggestions appear on results page.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes Icons are generally consistent but there is limited use across the platform
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
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always
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? Sometimes Some actions open new tabs without clear warning.
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? Sometimes Some pop-ups can be closed, but control is not always clear.
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 General structure exists, but occasional skipped heading levels
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 Some menus are not fully keyboard accessible and require mouse interaction

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 Some links open new tabs unexpectedly.
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? Sometimes Minor inconsistencies in keyboard navigation. Focus may not always follow logical order.
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