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| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Card Sorting |  Innovation Brainstorming |  Innovation Rapid Ideation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | When a team faces an open question with many obvious directions, the method first creates breadth instead of premature commitment. It separates idea flow from evaluation and makes lines of thought visible, creating a pool for selection and further development. | When a decision needs to be prepared quickly, the method generates many solution-close variants in a short time. It deliberately relies on pace to undercut self-censorship and perfectionism. This quickly produces a usable field for prioritization and further work. |
Complexitysame | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 20-45 min | 30-60 min | 5-20 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | Based on research question | 4-12 | 1-20 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses | Idea pool, Theme clusters, Shortlist | Ideenpool, Roh-Shortlist, Cluster |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Information architectureNavigationStructure | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityWorkshopDivergence | BrainstormingIdeationDivergenceSpeed |