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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Affinity Diagramming |  Facilitation Mind Mapping |  Facilitation Decision Jam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | 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 a topic is still unclear and too many thoughts surface at once, Mind Mapping creates an open surface for ordering them. It makes connections, subtopics, and starting points visible without fixing them too early. | When a decision is stuck, Decision Jam loosens the knot through structured separation of problem, idea, and selection. The format creates movement without jumping prematurely at the first seemingly elegant answer. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 45–90 min | 15-45 min | 60-90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | 3-10 | 1-10 | 4-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas | Mind Map, Topic Clusters, Open Questions | Problem Cluster, Prioritized Challenge, Experiment |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause | BrainstormingIdeasMappingStructureFacilitation | FacilitationDecisionProblem solvingWorkshop |