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| Criterion |  Decision Making Decision Tree |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Decision Making Constraint Analysis |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | For decisions with follow-on paths and dependencies, a linear comparison is often not enough. A Decision Tree shows how options branch under conditions and which consequences hang on each branch. | 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. | When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped. | 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 | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30-90 min | 45–90 min | 30-90 min | 30–60 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 3-10 | 2-8 | 4-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Decision Tree, Option Map, Assumption List | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Constraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps |
Tagsno overlap | DecisionTreeOptions | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop |