Assessment for Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts with Full Text by Lambton - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by Rebecca.Pearso… 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: For a person familiar with database functions (Searching, logging in, making an account, etc.) there are enough visual prompts to be considered instruction, although it might not be enough instruction for a person unfamiliar with using eresources. There is some additional instructions a user would receive from a read aloud program that are not visible on the page.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Within the sample there seems to be labels on every interactive form component. However those labels may not be visible outside of the code for each field. General search fields are the most frequent example of not having a visible label.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Recommend asking a user unfamiliar with eresource terminology if the descriptions are easy to understand for new users.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When the label occurs.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Even with some communication missing it does combine colour with text cues. The most obvious example, creating a new account, uses a red * to indicate a required field. However it does not confirm the meaning of the red font or the * so a user has no indication of why they are being used until they fail to meet requirements. At this time dialogue explaining the error appears and the whole field switches from black to red.
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:
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: There is no alert for an incorrect email when sending an article. There are alerts on the sign in and account creation form. However, while account creation retains the input information for correction, the sign in page deletes the original responses so a user is left inputting the information again.
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: The create account page is really good at alerting a user in real time to errors. Both the incorrect field and the fix are clearly outlined. On the sign in page the alert happens after submitting which tells the user the problem is with the email or password but it does not specify.
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: The basic search and result list search modify areas both check spelling, provides suggestions and synonyms. The advanced search page however does not provide 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:
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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Many pop-ups open in page but there are some key features that use another window, without browser controls. Using the help feature will open a new window both by clicking on the option in the main navigation menu, and by accessing it through any other 'help' prompt on the page.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Headings are used and tagged. Logical structure is not always followed.
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: The initial search waits for the user to go through all options before retrieving content. However the refining tools react as limiters are selected and update the content automatically.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: If a limiter on a search is accidentally added, the updating search results is not announced.
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: Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts with Full Text
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
Institution: Lambton
Score: A

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 For a person familiar with database functions (Searching, logging in, making an account, etc.) there are enough visual prompts to be considered instruction, although it might not be enough instruction for a person unfamiliar with using eresources. There is some additional instructions a user would receive from a read aloud program that are not visible on the page.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Within the sample there seems to be labels on every interactive form component. However those labels may not be visible outside of the code for each field. General search fields are the most frequent example of not having a visible label.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Recommend asking a user unfamiliar with eresource terminology if the descriptions are easy to understand for new users.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always When the label occurs.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Always Even with some communication missing it does combine colour with text cues. The most obvious example, creating a new account, uses a red * to indicate a required field. However it does not confirm the meaning of the red font or the * so a user has no indication of why they are being used until they fail to meet requirements. At this time dialogue explaining the error appears and the whole field switches from black to red.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Always

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 There is no alert for an incorrect email when sending an article. There are alerts on the sign in and account creation form. However, while account creation retains the input information for correction, the sign in page deletes the original responses so a user is left inputting the information again.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes The create account page is really good at alerting a user in real time to errors. Both the incorrect field and the fix are clearly outlined. On the sign in page the alert happens after submitting which tells the user the problem is with the email or password but it does not specify.
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 The basic search and result list search modify areas both check spelling, provides suggestions and synonyms. The advanced search page however does not provide 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
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? Always
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? Always
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Sometimes Many pop-ups open in page but there are some key features that use another window, without browser controls. Using the help feature will open a new window both by clicking on the option in the main navigation menu, and by accessing it through any other 'help' prompt on the page.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Sometimes Headings are used and tagged. Logical structure is not always followed.
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? 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? Sometimes The initial search waits for the user to go through all options before retrieving content. However the refining tools react as limiters are selected and update the content automatically.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Sometimes If a limiter on a search is accidentally added, the updating search results is not announced.

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? Always
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