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 Contextual Inquiry |  UX Research Card Sorting |
|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | Based on research question |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | Information architectureNavigationStructure |
Often compared together
Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.
