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Selected:Card SortingUsability TestingATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)First-click Testing
| Criterion |  UX Research Card Sorting |  UX Research Usability Testing |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  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. | When a product is built but people get stuck on tasks, usability testing shows the friction at concrete points. Observed use instead of self-report makes visible where orientation, understanding, or interaction breaks down. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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 | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 20-45 min | 1-2 h je Session | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | Based on research question | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 10-30 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async |
Outputdifferent | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Usability Issues, Severity List, Recommendations | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Click Heatmap, Success Rate, Design Recommendations |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationStructure | ValidationUXPrototype | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | UXNavigationFindabilityValidation |