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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Operations ALPEN Method |  UX Research Tree Testing |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 10-20 min daily | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | Information architectureNavigationFindability |
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