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| Criterion |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Product Discovery Outcome-Driven Innovation |  UX Research Card Sorting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | Outcome-Driven Innovation clarifies customer problems, solution opportunities, and evidence. It separates jobs, desired outcomes, importance, satisfaction, and opportunity, and captures results as desired outcome statements, an opportunity landscape, and segments by underserved needs. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 45–90 min | 1-2 Tage | Mehrere Wochen | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 3-10 | Based on research question | 2-6 researchers plus sample | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Desired outcome statements, Opportunity landscape, Segmentation by underserved needs, Innovation hypotheses | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Information architectureNavigationFindability | OutcomesInnovationResearchQuantitative | Information architectureNavigationStructure |