Assessment for ClinicalKey by McMaster University - Module 3: Interface Structure

Submitted by hsltser@mcmaster.ca on
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text, or from the link text together with its surrounding context?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Can keyboard focus be moved to all page elements?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Cannot get to 'Help and Feedback' section in right hand menu when accessing the menu from the Clinical References homepage. However, from other areas of the database, you can access the 'Help and Feedback' section in right hand menu.
If moving keyboard focus away from a component requires more than arrow or tab keys, is this clearly indicated on the page?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Sometimes spacebar is used in a drop down menu instead of tab or enter. This is inconsistent with the rest of the database and it is not clearly indicated.
Is default keyboard navigation order logical and intuitive, following the visual flow of the page as described above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Under main screen's search box, the keyboard then navigates right to left for 'Saved searches' and 'Saved history'. Navigation then resumes left to right.
When using a keyboard to navigate the interface, is the keyboard focus indicator visible?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Sometimes the visual indicator disappears.
Does all interactive functionality work via keyboard, and does it behave consistently and as expected?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The "Browse" and "Tools" menus in the Clinical References section, will not close automatically after being opened. They stay open and block other content after focus has moved away, unless the user returns to close them.
"Saved searches" and "saved history" are right to left should be left to right (under the search bar)
The keyboard navigation on a brand new page starts at 'Contents' section of the page, instead of the top left section of a page with skip links.
Does focus order move sequentially across form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Do skip navigation controls appear in the same place on every page?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the reader capture accurate information as it appears in the table and the columns and rows?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Does the screen reader successfully navigate from one frame to another?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are frames ("Filter by" , "Featured books"), but the user cannot jump from frame to frame, you can only scroll through the entire frame, item by item, until you get to the next frame.
Does each frame have a meaningful title that tells the user the purpose of the frame?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: "Filter by" and "Featured books" do have headings, but the other areas do not have titles.
When navigating the page using keyboard navigation, is the user able to navigate effectively from one frame to the next?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There are frames ("Filter by" , "Featured books"), but the user cannot jump from frame to frame, you can only scroll through the entire frame, item by item, until you get to the next frame.
eResource: ClinicalKey
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Elsevier
Institution: McMaster University
Score: C+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • Screen readers accurately capture information presented in tables

Weaknesses

  • Some interactive functionality works consistently for users who are navigating a site via keyboard

Navigation Links

Question Answer Notes Images
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text, or from the link text together with its surrounding context? Always no images

Keyboard Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Can keyboard focus be moved to all page elements? Sometimes Cannot get to 'Help and Feedback' section in right hand menu when accessing the menu from the Clinical References homepage. However, from other areas of the database, you can access the 'Help and Feedback' section in right hand menu. no images
If moving keyboard focus away from a component requires more than arrow or tab keys, is this clearly indicated on the page? Never Sometimes spacebar is used in a drop down menu instead of tab or enter. This is inconsistent with the rest of the database and it is not clearly indicated. no images
Is default keyboard navigation order logical and intuitive, following the visual flow of the page as described above? Sometimes Under main screen's search box, the keyboard then navigates right to left for 'Saved searches' and 'Saved history'. Navigation then resumes left to right. no images
When using a keyboard to navigate the interface, is the keyboard focus indicator visible? Sometimes Sometimes the visual indicator disappears. no images
Does all interactive functionality work via keyboard, and does it behave consistently and as expected? Sometimes The "Browse" and "Tools" menus in the Clinical References section, will not close automatically after being opened. They stay open and block other content after focus has moved away, unless the user returns to close them. "Saved searches" and "saved history" are right to left should be left to right (under the search bar) The keyboard navigation on a brand new page starts at 'Contents' section of the page, instead of the top left section of a page with skip links. no images
Does focus order move sequentially across form fields? Always no images

Skip Links

Question Answer Notes Images
Are there skip links (either visible or invisible)? Always Invisible no images
Are skip links visible or invisible? Always Invisible no images
Are skip links (visible or invisible) positioned prominently near the beginning of the page? Always no images
Are skip links labelled properly? Sometimes "Skip to search" goes to the Question mark icon with "Help" and "Contact" options. It does not go to any search fields. This is not an intuitive label. no images
Are skip links accessible via keyboard? Always Yes, these are accessible via keyboard, but the user must navigate backwards to get to the skip links. A newly opened page does not have the keyboard focus start automatically from the skip links. no images
Do anchors (link destinations) appear at the beginning of the relevant content? Always no images
Do skip navigation controls appear in the same place on every page? Always no images

Tables

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the reader capture accurate information as it appears in the table and the columns and rows? Always no images

Frames

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the screen reader successfully navigate from one frame to another? Sometimes There are frames ("Filter by" , "Featured books"), but the user cannot jump from frame to frame, you can only scroll through the entire frame, item by item, until you get to the next frame. no images
Does each frame have a meaningful title that tells the user the purpose of the frame? Sometimes "Filter by" and "Featured books" do have headings, but the other areas do not have titles. no images
When navigating the page using keyboard navigation, is the user able to navigate effectively from one frame to the next? Never There are frames ("Filter by" , "Featured books"), but the user cannot jump from frame to frame, you can only scroll through the entire frame, item by item, until you get to the next frame. no images
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