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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research First-click Testing |  Architecture arc42 |  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. | When users immediately turn the wrong way on a screen or wireframe, first click testing checks initial orientation at high speed. The first click shows early whether expectation, labeling, and wayfinding fit together. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. | 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 | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 10-30 | 1-4 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Click Heatmap, Success Rate, Design Recommendations | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | UXNavigationFindabilityValidation | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication | Information architectureNavigationFindability |