Assessment for Frontier Life by Mohawk - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by istheshad.chow… 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: Advanced search only has instructions within placeholder text in search bars. Directory search has some instructions, but some buttons don't have text indicating what those buttons do. Login button takes user to a form that has fields with qualifiers to the side indicating what to put in those fields, as well alt text instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The advanced search page has no form labels for drop down menus and user input fields for searching.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: In advanced search, all instructions for user input fields are limited and only placeholder text instructions are available.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
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: 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: Always
Score: 2
Notes:
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: Searches will just proceed through for closest term in relation to what you spelled, with no suggested spelling alternatives.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Images that are used in articles require being clicked on to be taken to the individual image page where the option to download or print is available, but there is no text in the articles that state a user can click on the image to go to that page. Text articles are also unavailable for downloading or printing unless right clicking and selecting to print the web page.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: This is true for all icons that HAVE alt text, but some icons such as on the search directories page do not have alt text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The search bar in the top right corner just says GO
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
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: there are a few links that open in a new tab when clicked, for example on the advanced search page, there is a search tips button that opens in a new tab, as well as an interactive help button in the navigation bar (small circular button with a question mark beside "search directories" button) that also opens instructions in a new tab.
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: 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: Never
Score: 0
Notes:
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are times where, if a user spends too much time away from the page, that once the user then navigates to another page, they'll be asked to sign into the resource again.
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: Frontier Life
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Other
Institution: Mohawk
Score: B-

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 Advanced search only has instructions within placeholder text in search bars. Directory search has some instructions, but some buttons don't have text indicating what those buttons do. Login button takes user to a form that has fields with qualifiers to the side indicating what to put in those fields, as well alt text instructions.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes The advanced search page has no form labels for drop down menus and user input fields for searching.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes In advanced search, all instructions for user input fields are limited and only placeholder text instructions are available.
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Never
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Never

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? Always
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always
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? Never Searches will just proceed through for closest term in relation to what you spelled, with no suggested spelling alternatives.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes Images that are used in articles require being clicked on to be taken to the individual image page where the option to download or print is available, but there is no text in the articles that state a user can click on the image to go to that page. Text articles are also unavailable for downloading or printing unless right clicking and selecting to print the web page.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Sometimes This is true for all icons that HAVE alt text, but some icons such as on the search directories page do not have alt text.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Sometimes The search bar in the top right corner just says GO
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? Sometimes
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 there are a few links that open in a new tab when clicked, for example on the advanced search page, there is a search tips button that opens in a new tab, as well as an interactive help button in the navigation bar (small circular button with a question mark beside "search directories" button) that also opens instructions in a new tab.
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? Always

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? 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? Never
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Sometimes There are times where, if a user spends too much time away from the page, that once the user then navigates to another page, they'll be asked to sign into the resource again.

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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