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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Operations MORT Analysis |  Operations Family Tree Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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 safety-relevant event or a system with high protection requirements, the method examines where controls failed. It exposes both technical and organizational gaps. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | High | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 45–90 min | Mehrere Tage bis Wochen | 2-4 h |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 3-10 | 2-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | MORT Worksheets, Findings per Branch, Corrective Actions, Systemic Recommendations | Family Tree Diagram, Pattern Notes, Systemic Measures |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | Root causeSafetySystemicIncident | Root causePatternsIncidentSystemic |