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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  Operations Causal Factor 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. | For a series of incidents with a similar pattern, the method arranges individual events as branches of a common origin. It makes visible which conditions keep recurring. | 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. | For an event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low | High |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 2-4 h | 30–60 min | 2-6 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 2-6 | 4-8 | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Event Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective Actions |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline |