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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contextual Inquiry.
UX Research
Contextual Inquiry
First-click Testing method illustration showing its working structure
UX Research
First-click Testing
Paper illustration showing three sorted card stacks and an open question about a possible group.
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 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 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
MediumLowLow
Timedifferent
1-3 Wochen1-2 Tage20-45 min
Participantsdifferent
4-12 Beobachtungen10-30Based on research question
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncAsyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain PointsClick Heatmap, Success Rate, Design RecommendationsContent groups, Label set, IA hypotheses
Tagsno overlap
UX researchObservationContext
UXNavigationFindabilityValidation
Information architectureNavigationStructure
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Often compared together

Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of a branching category tree with a highlighted search path and possible dead ends.
UX Research
Tree Testing
Paper illustration of a participant using a prototype while an observer takes notes beside a highlighted usability issue.
UX Research
Usability Testing
Paper illustration of Five-Minute VC Check with its method-specific working model.
Business Strategy
5-Minuten VC-Check