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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping |  Knowledge Modeling Knowledge Mapping |  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. | 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 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 | Medium | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 h | 1-3 h | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-8 | 3-12 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Knowledge Map, Critical Knowledge Areas, Transfer Plan | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | KnowledgeMappingRisk | Information architectureNavigationFindability |