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| Criterion | ![]() UX Research Diary Study | ![]() Operations Change Analysis | ![]() Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis | ![]() Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When experiences build up over days or weeks and a single session cannot capture them, Diary Study records the course of everyday life. Recurring triggers, moods, and habits become visible this way, beyond the sharpness of memory. | For a deviation after a change, the method isolates the influence of the altered condition. It narrows down which differences are relevant and which are just accompanying noise. | For a problem with several suspected causes, the method builds a causal structure instead of a mere list. It makes visible how causes connect and where the strongest points of leverage lie. | For a single, hard-to-explain deviation, the method exposes the causal chain behind the visible symptom. It keeps the cause open until a controllable condition emerges instead of a mere description. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 Wochen | 45-120 min | 1-3 h | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-20 | 2-6 | 2-8 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Diary Entries, Longitudinal Patterns, Experience Timeline | Change Matrix, Cause Hypotheses, Validation Questions, Action List | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchTrackingBehavior | ChangeRoot causeTroubleshootingComparison | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |



