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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Decision Making Assumption Surfacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | When assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. | Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 45-60 min | 30–60 min | 45-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-8 | 4-8 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Assumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning Plan |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery |