Assessment for Journals@OVID by Georgian - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by karen.halliday… 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: Yes, the user fields are clear such as "Enter keyword or Phrase."
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There are 15x empty form labels; 1x multiple form label and 8x orphaned form labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, they seen to be clear cut with "Enter Keywords or phrase."
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is one label which is clear over the search box, "Search Georgian College OVID Full Text Journals," not all have labels placed above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: I don't see any text cues for colored form labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There is a gear indicator for options and an open access logo for locating open access content.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: It appears to be reversible, the searching, but the errors are not checked or indicated.
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: I tried sending an article to a wrong email account and the message was that "if no email is received, there may be a problem with email delivery" and "email addresses must be valid and complete. An incorrect address will cause the system to discard the results. You will not be notified if this occurs." However, I also asked for records to be sent to an email, but there was a message that "nor records" were set. I hadn't selected records to 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: Sometimes. I also asked for records to be sent to an email, but there was a message that "nor records" were set. I hadn't selected any records to email.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: It seems like the user isn't given an opportunity to be alerted to something like an email account being wrong. However, they can fix adding records somewhat easily.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: I can't find any way that the user can resubmit the form in a seamless manner.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the few error reports I saw do seem to follow a lgoical reading and navigation order.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: Well, I misspelled the word "healthcare" to "heathcare" and the error message said, "The term "heathcare" may be misspelled. Please edit your term and rerun your search" so I did not offer spelling suggestions or synonyms.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, I found that the icons for print, save, export, options and "My Project" are consistent across the site. Also, the magnifier icon is the same for finding content.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the alt text seems clear and consistent for each icon. For example, the "Annotate" and "My Projects" are clear and consistent throughout.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the actions are well labelled across the site. I checked several pages and on each page there was a clearly labelled search button or "Back to Search Results" "Next" and cite.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The icons that are there all seem to have adjacent links to them like the "cite" icon.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the purpose of each link can be determined from the text alone.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, there is a consistent layout and navigation across all pages. For example, if I examine an article I can still see the tool bar which outlines key features such as "Search, Journal, Books, Multimedia and My Work." I can also see the "Back to Search Results, the Next Results and My Account.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the search fields are located in the same places throughout the website. For example, I always find the Filters on the left and the Find Similar and Find Citing Articles on the right.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, I find the features such as "Contact Us" at the bottom.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the links, buttons and images and other components which are repeatedly used are labelled consistently. For example, the Logoff and Help are quite clear to see.
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: I could not find the use of Pop-Up windows when I used a new tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When I launched the database, I did not see any pop up windows.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: I could not find pop-up windows.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the database avoids launching pages in a new browser. I tried
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: I checked multiple pages within the database and using WAVE did not find any red or yellow alert errors for headings. For example, on the first search screen there were 7X column header cell, 4X heading level 2, 1x heading level 1 and 3x heading level 3.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, I find the headings to be concise, clear and accurately reflect the content under that heading.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: There aren't many drop down menus in this database.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes:
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Well, I could highlight the links (they turned yellow), enter to follow the links, but I seemed to have a hard time to use the numbers to choose links to follow.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, when I was on a results page for a search I did, the record did not open in a new tab unless I clicked on the link itself.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: I did not see any "Update Now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: I have not seen the database show an automatic redirection.
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: Yes, I have not seen it launch new windows when it received focus.
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: Yes, it seems that a user can tab through without the focus moving away.
eResource: Journals@OVID
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: Wolters Kluwer Health
Institution: Georgian
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? Always Yes, the user fields are clear such as "Enter keyword or Phrase."
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Sometimes There are 15x empty form labels; 1x multiple form label and 8x orphaned form labels.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Yes, they seen to be clear cut with "Enter Keywords or phrase."
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Sometimes There is one label which is clear over the search box, "Search Georgian College OVID Full Text Journals," not all have labels placed above.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Never I don't see any text cues for colored form labels.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Sometimes There is a gear indicator for options and an open access logo for locating open access content.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Sometimes It appears to be reversible, the searching, but the errors are not checked or indicated.

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 I tried sending an article to a wrong email account and the message was that "if no email is received, there may be a problem with email delivery" and "email addresses must be valid and complete. An incorrect address will cause the system to discard the results. You will not be notified if this occurs." However, I also asked for records to be sent to an email, but there was a message that "nor records" were set. I hadn't selected records to email.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Sometimes Sometimes. I also asked for records to be sent to an email, but there was a message that "nor records" were set. I hadn't selected any records to email.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Sometimes It seems like the user isn't given an opportunity to be alerted to something like an email account being wrong. However, they can fix adding records somewhat easily.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Never I can't find any way that the user can resubmit the form in a seamless manner.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always Yes, the few error reports I saw do seem to follow a lgoical reading and navigation order.

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 Well, I misspelled the word "healthcare" to "heathcare" and the error message said, "The term "heathcare" may be misspelled. Please edit your term and rerun your search" so I did not offer spelling suggestions or synonyms.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Always Yes, I found that the icons for print, save, export, options and "My Project" are consistent across the site. Also, the magnifier icon is the same for finding content.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Always Yes, the alt text seems clear and consistent for each icon. For example, the "Annotate" and "My Projects" are clear and consistent throughout.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always Yes, the actions are well labelled across the site. I checked several pages and on each page there was a clearly labelled search button or "Back to Search Results" "Next" and cite.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always The icons that are there all seem to have adjacent links to them like the "cite" icon.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always Yes, the purpose of each link can be determined from the text alone.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always Yes, there is a consistent layout and navigation across all pages. For example, if I examine an article I can still see the tool bar which outlines key features such as "Search, Journal, Books, Multimedia and My Work." I can also see the "Back to Search Results, the Next Results and My Account.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always Yes, the search fields are located in the same places throughout the website. For example, I always find the Filters on the left and the Find Similar and Find Citing Articles on the right.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always Yes, I find the features such as "Contact Us" at the bottom.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always Yes, the links, buttons and images and other components which are repeatedly used are labelled consistently. For example, the Logoff and Help are quite clear to see.

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 I could not find the use of Pop-Up windows when I used a new tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Always When I launched the database, I did not see any pop up windows.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Always I could not find pop-up windows.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always Yes, the database avoids launching pages in a new browser. I tried

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always I checked multiple pages within the database and using WAVE did not find any red or yellow alert errors for headings. For example, on the first search screen there were 7X column header cell, 4X heading level 2, 1x heading level 1 and 3x heading level 3.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always Yes, I find the headings to be concise, clear and accurately reflect the content under that heading.

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Sometimes There aren't many drop down menus in this database.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Sometimes
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Sometimes Well, I could highlight the links (they turned yellow), enter to follow the links, but I seemed to have a hard time to use the numbers to choose links to follow.

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 Yes, when I was on a results page for a search I did, the record did not open in a new tab unless I clicked on the link itself.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Never I did not see any "Update Now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always I have not seen the database show an automatic redirection.

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 Yes, I have not seen it launch new windows when it received focus.
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 Yes, it seems that a user can tab through without the focus moving away.
Previous1234Next