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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a navigation exists but search paths still fail, tree testing checks findability without visual distraction. The method shows whether labels, levels, and paths really lead to the intended destination. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 20-45 min | 1-2 Tage | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Based on research question | Based on research question | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Information architectureNavigationFindability | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |