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Criterion
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
Paper illustration of a branching category tree with a highlighted search path and possible dead ends.
UX Research
Tree Testing
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration showing three sorted card stacks and an open question about a possible group.
UX Research
Card Sorting
Purposedifferent
When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on.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.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.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
MediumMediumLowLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h1-2 Tage45-90 min20-45 min
Participantsdifferent
1-8Based on research question2-8Based on research question
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Argument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision RationaleFindability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IAAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanContent groups, Label set, IA hypotheses
Tagsno overlap
SensemakingDecisionRationale
Information architectureNavigationFindability
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
Information architectureNavigationStructure
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