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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Operations 5 Whys |
|---|---|---|---|
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 content only makes sense internally and users can't find the structure again, card sorting exposes their mental order. Terms, groups, and naming are then aligned with the target group's expectations. | 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. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 20-45 min | 15-30 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | Based on research question | 2-6 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Root cause notes, Countermeasures |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Information architectureNavigationStructure | Root causeIncidentLeanProblem solving |
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