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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Knowledge Modeling Concept 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. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-3 h | 1-3 h | 1-2 h |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | 3-12 | 2-8 | 1-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | KnowledgeMappingRisk | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking |