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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research HEART Framework |  UX Research Tree Testing |  UX Research First-click 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. | Helps clarify observations, needs, and patterns in concrete terms. It groups observations into patterns, questions, and decisions. The result is captured as a HEART-GSM table and dashboard. | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 120 min initial, dann laufend | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 3-6 | Based on research question | 10-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | HEART-GSM Table, Dashboard | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Click Heatmap, Success Rate, Design Recommendations |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | MetricsUX researchMeasurementSatisfaction | Information architectureNavigationFindability | UXNavigationFindabilityValidation |