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| Criterion |  UX Research Contextual Inquiry |  UX Research Usability Testing |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Innovation Design Sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. | 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 the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Timedifferent | 1-3 Wochen | 1-2 h je Session | 1-2 Tage | 4-5 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 4-12 Beobachtungen | Based on research question | Based on research question | 5-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Field Notes, Workflow Insights, Pain Points | Usability Issues, Severity List, Recommendations | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchObservationContext | ValidationUXPrototype | Information architectureNavigationFindability | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation |