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Criterion
Empathy Mapping
UX Research
Empathy Mapping
Paper illustration of two user profile cards with a goal, behavior evidence, and an open research question.
UX Research
Personas
Paper illustration for Argument Mapping
Decision Making
Argument Mapping
Affinity Diagramming
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
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 target groups stay too vague and teams talk about the same people differently, personas create a shared, solid picture of usage. Condensed profiles make needs, contexts, and differences tangible enough for decisions.When statements, evidence, and counterarguments get mixed up, a debate quickly loses its structure. Argument Mapping breaks a thesis down into its reasoning and makes visible what it really rests on.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.
Complexitydifferent
LowMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
30–60 min1-3 Tage1-3 h45–90 min
Participantsdifferent
4-8Internes Team1-83-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research GapsPersona Profiles, Needs Summary, Scenario NotesArgument Map, Evidence Gaps, Decision RationaleTheme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas
Tagsno overlap
SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop
ResearchCustomerSynthesis
SensemakingDecisionRationale
SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause
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