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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Domain Modeling Domain Context Map |  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 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 a domain model and its associated contexts need to be thought through together, it creates a shared overview. It connects the business view and organizational boundary into a readable whole. | 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 | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1-2 Tage | 1-3 h | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | Based on research question | 3-10 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Domain Context Map, Boundary Notes, Ownership Map | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | Information architectureNavigationFindability | Domain-Driven DesignContextBoundaries | Information architectureNavigationStructure |