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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Fishbone Diagram |  Decision Making Pareto Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When a problem has several possible contributing factors, the method sorts causes by cause areas. It prevents an initial hunch from blocking the view of other plausible drivers. | In many problem situations, effect is distributed unequally across many causes. A Pareto Analysis separates the few drivers with high leverage from the long remainder and focuses attention on what measurably moves the needle. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 30–60 min | 30-60 min | 30-60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 4-8 | 2-8 | 1-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Fishbone Diagram, Cause Categories, Investigation Backlog | Pareto Chart, Top Causes, Focus List |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Root causeQualityOperations | PrioritizationQualityFocusRoot cause |