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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |  Facilitation Mind 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. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | Knowledge Mapping makes knowledge, gaps, and transfer paths visible across a field. It fits when expertise should not just exist but also be findable and transferable. | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 h | 1-3 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-8 | 3-12 | 1-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | KnowledgeMappingRisk | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation |