Assessment for Cambridge eBooks by McMaster University - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by hsltser@mcmaster.ca 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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Reversible.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Alert messages in text clearly indicate error field and description. NVDA doesn't state "error" but it will read out the new red instructions.
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: Never
Score: 0
Notes: No spelling corrections were offered. Tested in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Icons for 'Share', 'Cite' and 'PDF' are different if you are looking at a book vs. an individual chapter.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Alt text for icons is inconsistently used across the site, or they are not available.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are 2 search boxes, one is labelled 'Search' and the other is labelled 'Search again'. The purpose of the second is unclear.
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: There are different collections/series within Cambridge. Within each collection/series, the layout and navigation is consistent, but between the collections/series, it varies slightly.
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: There are different collections/series within Cambridge. Within each collection/series, features occur in the same place, but between the collections/series, it varies slightly.

Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Between collections/series, labels vary slightly, but are consistent within collections/series.

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: PDF downloads or 'buy' buttons open in a new tab. Otherwise the resource avoided the use of new tabs.
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Search fields require the user to enter their search, but when a filter tick box is used, the results are applied automatically without an "Update now" button.
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: Cambridge eBooks
eResource Type: eBooks
Vendor: Cambridge University Press
Institution: McMaster University
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? Always no images
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always no images

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always Reversible. 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? Sometimes Alert messages in text clearly indicate error field and description. NVDA doesn't state "error" but it will read out the new red instructions. 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? Never No spelling corrections were offered. Tested in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. no images

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes Icons for 'Share', 'Cite' and 'PDF' are different if you are looking at a book vs. an individual chapter. no images
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Sometimes Alt text for icons is inconsistently used across the site, or they are not available. no images
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes There are 2 search boxes, one is labelled 'Search' and the other is labelled 'Search again'. The purpose of the second is unclear. 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 There are different collections/series within Cambridge. Within each collection/series, the layout and navigation is consistent, but between the collections/series, it varies slightly. 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 There are different collections/series within Cambridge. Within each collection/series, features occur in the same place, but between the collections/series, it varies slightly. no images
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always Between collections/series, labels vary slightly, but are consistent within collections/series. 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 PDF downloads or 'buy' buttons open in a new tab. Otherwise the resource avoided the use of new tabs. no images
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always no images
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Always no images
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always 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? Always no images
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Sometimes Search fields require the user to enter their search, but when a filter tick box is used, the results are applied automatically without an "Update now" button. 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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