Assessment for CINAHL by Northern - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by garbea@norther… 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: On the Search page: The Search box has place holder text "Enter any words to find books, jo" and it cuts off without letting you know the full statement. It clears the text once you type but doesn't include search instructions. Mostly Input fields are labelled instead of using instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most of the time there is not clear instruction. There is more use of labels than instruction.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is often the assumption that people using the database know professional terms such as "References," "Peer Reviewed," "Boolean/Phrase."
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Labels either appear above or beside the input field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Most prominently seen in the E-mail option on the Detailed Record page.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Most prominently seen in the E-mail option on the Detailed Record page.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Field inputs are checked for blank information, and errors are shown in red text near or beside the field with the error.
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: On the Detailed Record page: The email function checks for the correct email address format and displays an error beside the field in red.
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: If the user tries to send the email with an incorrect email using the NDVA screen reader, it doesn't read aloud the error unless the user backtracks to the field with the error.
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: The positive confirmation is a pop-up box that doesn't prompt the NDVA screen reader unless it is hovered over by the user's mouse.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: It automatically fixed my search when searching for "cornavirus" to show the results for "coronavirus"; while giving the option to show the incorrect spelling results. But it doesn't offer options for spelling variations or synonyms.
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: The links may appear adjacent or below the icon.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Some confirmations such as the Email sent confirmation pops up in a small window. This window is not readable by the NVDA screen reader. There are pop up windows for opening images. The Refine Results area of the Results page is riddled with pop up windows with show more options.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Images open in a separate window without browser controls other than to minimize, expand or close the window.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The Refine Results area contains many items, requires multiple clicks to access full information to limit results.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most areas are one click, but when refining results it can be a lot of menu items.
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:
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
eResource: CINAHL
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
Institution: Northern
Score: C+

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 On the Search page: The Search box has place holder text "Enter any words to find books, jo" and it cuts off without letting you know the full statement. It clears the text once you type but doesn't include search instructions. Mostly Input fields are labelled instead of using instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Most of the time there is not clear instruction. There is more use of labels than instruction.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes There is often the assumption that people using the database know professional terms such as "References," "Peer Reviewed," "Boolean/Phrase."
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always Labels either appear above or beside the input field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never Most prominently seen in the E-mail option on the Detailed Record page.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never Most prominently seen in the E-mail option on the Detailed Record page.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Field inputs are checked for blank information, and errors are shown in red text near or beside the field with the error.

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 On the Detailed Record page: The email function checks for the correct email address format and displays an error beside the field in red.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always If the user tries to send the email with an incorrect email using the NDVA screen reader, it doesn't read aloud the error unless the user backtracks to the field with the error.
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 The positive confirmation is a pop-up box that doesn't prompt the NDVA screen reader unless it is hovered over by the user's mouse.
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? Never It automatically fixed my search when searching for "cornavirus" to show the results for "coronavirus"; while giving the option to show the incorrect spelling results. But it doesn't offer options for spelling variations or synonyms.

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
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always The links may appear adjacent or below the icon.
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? Never Some confirmations such as the Email sent confirmation pops up in a small window. This window is not readable by the NVDA screen reader. There are pop up windows for opening images. The Refine Results area of the Results page is riddled with pop up windows with show more options.
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? Never
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes Images open in a separate window without browser controls other than to minimize, expand or close the window.

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? Sometimes The Refine Results area contains many items, requires multiple clicks to access full information to limit results.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Sometimes Most areas are one click, but when refining results it can be a lot of menu items.
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
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Never

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Never
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? Never
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