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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Innovation Design Thinking |  UX Research First-click Testing |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | For complex user problems with an uncertain cause, the method connects observation, interpretation, and experiment into a learning cycle. It keeps the focus on real needs and avoids premature solution language. This produces robust decisions for product and service. | When users immediately turn the wrong way on a screen or wireframe, first click testing checks initial orientation at high speed. The first click shows early whether expectation, labeling, and wayfinding fit together. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1 Tag bis mehrere Wochen | 1-2 Tage | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-10 | 10-30 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Problem Statement, Prototype, Test Learnings | Click Heatmap, Success Rate, Design Recommendations | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | InnovationPrototypeResearch | UXNavigationFindabilityValidation | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |