Assessment for ASM Handbooks Online by Fanshawe - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by a_thom@fanshawec.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: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Sometimes it just has the placeholder text for the overall website, but searching within the books, it has labels beside.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes:
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The fields are predictive, suggesting options resulting from the text being typed. Once you search for something, an update search appears on the side that allows you to revise and edit the search that was done.
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: The error would come from the search result page, which tells you to modify the search and try again. When entering dates, it will pop up saying incorrect format, as well as when signing in or registering, you will have a red dialog box that appears after attempting to sign in with a wrong email.
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:
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: I'm not sure if this was Google doing it, but it would come up with red lines underneath and you can right-click to find suggestions of others.
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: Search always appears around the search bar and/or in the bar, as well as the symbol of the magnifying glass appearing in many.
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: Unless you go out of the ASM Handbooks Online section by clicking on the digital library (as these are different databases owned by ASM and need a separate login, everything else is consistent.
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: Sometimes
Score: 1
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: They are not pop-ups but separate windows following the links to resources. One could close them if they wanted.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: It opens another copy of the book or chapter into a separate window for you and looks the same as the rest of the website.
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: There is an update button, but refining results does automatically update. Also, can choose the filter option to open, but cannot scroll through the filters to add any.
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: Not sure if this is the correct interpretation of this one, but there are no pop-ups to distract from where you are tabbing and going through the page.
eResource: ASM Handbooks Online
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: ASM international
Institution: Fanshawe
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? Always
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes Sometimes it just has the placeholder text for the overall website, but searching within the books, it has labels beside.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Sometimes
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Always The fields are predictive, suggesting options resulting from the text being typed. Once you search for something, an update search appears on the side that allows you to revise and edit the search that was done.

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 The error would come from the search result page, which tells you to modify the search and try again. When entering dates, it will pop up saying incorrect format, as well as when signing in or registering, you will have a red dialog box that appears after attempting to sign in with a wrong email.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes
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 I'm not sure if this was Google doing it, but it would come up with red lines underneath and you can right-click to find suggestions of others.

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 Search always appears around the search bar and/or in the bar, as well as the symbol of the magnifying glass appearing in many.
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 Unless you go out of the ASM Handbooks Online section by clicking on the digital library (as these are different databases owned by ASM and need a separate login, everything else is consistent.
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? Sometimes
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 They are not pop-ups but separate windows following the links to resources. One could close them if they wanted.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always It opens another copy of the book or chapter into a separate window for you and looks the same as the rest of the website.

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? Sometimes There is an update button, but refining results does automatically update. Also, can choose the filter option to open, but cannot scroll through the filters to add any.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always

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 Not sure if this is the correct interpretation of this one, but there are no pop-ups to distract from where you are tabbing and going through the page.
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