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| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Knowledge Modeling IBIS |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | IBIS structures thinking about complex questions as a sequence of issues, ideas, and arguments. The method keeps discussions open without forcing them into premature consensus. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-3 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | 1-3 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance |
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