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Criterion
Paper illustration showing three sorted card stacks and an open question about a possible group.
UX Research
Card Sorting
Four paper stations connect system purpose, quality goals, risk cards and focused investigation with a target and gap profile.
Architecture
LASR (Lightweight Approach for Software Reviews)
First-click Testing method illustration showing its working structure
UX Research
First-click Testing
Paper illustration of a branching category tree with a highlighted search path and possible dead ends.
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.LASR helps development teams identify where their software falls short of important quality goals and which improvements to consider. A small group with existing system knowledge can make an initial assessment and investigate open questions in more detail.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.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
LowMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
20-45 min3–4 h for initial assessment; preparation and deeper analysis additional1-2 Tage1-2 Tage
Participantsdifferent
Based on research question1 or a small team; particularly suitable for 3–4 people10-30Based on research question
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Content groups, Label set, IA hypothesesLean Mission Statement describing the software’s purpose, Prioritized quality goals and evaluation criteria, Risks and estimated gaps against quality goals, More closely examined findings and open checksClick Heatmap, Success Rate, Design RecommendationsFindability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA
Tagsno overlap
Information architectureNavigationStructure
ArchitectureQualityRiskAssessmentLean
UXNavigationFindabilityValidation
Information architectureNavigationFindability
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