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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Contextual Inquiry | ![]() Knowledge Modeling Concept Mapping | ![]() Systems Thinking Iceberg Model | ![]() Systems Thinking Behavior Over Time Graph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly. | The Iceberg Model separates visible events from patterns, structures, and mental models. This turns a single observation into a deeper understanding of why a problem keeps recurring. | A Behavior Over Time Graph shows how a metric or observation develops over time. The method makes trends, breaks, and recurring patterns visible that get lost in snapshots. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1-2 h | 30-60 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | 1-8 | 2-10 | 1-10 |
Formatsame | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Concept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge Gaps | Iceberg Worksheet, Pattern Notes, Intervention Ideas | Behavior Over Time Graph, Trend Hypotheses, Key Events |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking | Systems thinkingRoot causePatterns | Systems thinkingPatternsDynamics |



