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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Product Discovery Solution Interview |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a solution idea is already on the table, it checks how it is understood and evaluated. It looks for resonance, objections, and missing fit early in the conversation. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 45–90 min | 30-60 min je Interview | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 3-10 | 5-10 Interviews | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Solution Feedback, Objection List, Validation Notes | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ValidationInterviewsPrototype | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |