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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Card Sorting | ![]() Knowledge Modeling IBIS | ![]() Facilitation Mind Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-3 h | 15-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | 1-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Issue Map, Positions, Argument Notes | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | RationaleKnowledgeDecision | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation |
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.






