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| Criterion |  UX Research Diary Study |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 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. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-4 Wochen | 1-2 Tage | 15-45 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | 5-20 | Based on research question | 1-3 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Async | Async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Diary Entries, Longitudinal Patterns, Experience Timeline | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | UX researchTrackingBehavior | Information architectureNavigationFindability | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |