View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Tree Testing |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|
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 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 work processes are known only from accounts and the real context stays hidden, Contextual Inquiry makes behavior at the workplace visible. Observation and follow-up questions together show how people actually work, get interrupted, and improvise. |
Complexitydifferent | Low | Medium | Medium |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 Tage | 1-3 Wochen |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | Based on research question | 4-12 Beobachtungen |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Information architectureNavigationFindability | UX researchObservationContext |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
