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| Criterion |  UX Research Diary Study |  Operations Root Cause Tree Analysis |  Agile Specification by Example |  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 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. | When business rules need to become precise, it ties language, example, and test together. It sorts work by value, risk, and delivery ability. The result is captured as an Example Table and Acceptance Tests. | 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 | 1-3 h | 60-90 min pro Feature | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 5-20 | 2-8 | 3-6 | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Diary Entries, Longitudinal Patterns, Experience Timeline | Cause Tree, Evidence Notes, Countermeasures | Example Table, Acceptance Tests | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchTrackingBehavior | Root causeTreeIncidentQuality | AgileRequirementsExamplesBehavior-Driven Development | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |