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| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Matrix |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Decision Making Trade-off Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When several options collide with several criteria, comparison quickly becomes subjective. A Decision Matrix makes the trade-off visible and brings weighting, criteria, and options into a shared logic. | When research notes, feedback, or observations sit unconnected side by side, affinity diagramming sorts the raw material into solid themes. Many individual points turn into patterns that make decisions and opportunities clearer. | With limited resources, quality, speed, cost, and risk almost always compete with each other. Trade-off Analysis makes these tensions explicit and prevents decisions from producing hidden side effects. | When a lot is assumed about a target group but little is seen jointly, empathy mapping makes knowledge and gaps directly comparable. The picture also shows which assumptions hold up and where evidence is missing. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 45-90 min | 45–90 min | 45-120 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 2-8 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Matrix, Scoring Rationale, Selected Option | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Trade-off Matrix, Criteria List, Decision Rationale, Accepted Downsides | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionCriteriaScoringTradeoffs | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | TradeoffsDecisionCriteriaOptions | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |