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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Card Sorting |
|---|---|---|
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 content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Information architectureNavigationStructure |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
