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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Usability Testing |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | When a product is built but people get stuck on tasks, usability testing shows the friction at concrete points. Observed use instead of self-report makes visible where orientation, understanding, or interaction breaks down. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Low | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 30–60 min | 1-2 h je Session | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 4-8 | Based on research question | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Usability Issues, Severity List, Recommendations | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | ValidationUXPrototype | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |