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Selected:Empathy MappingUser InterviewsATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)Affinity Diagramming
| Criterion |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research User Interviews |  Architecture ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) |  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 teams derive needs only from assumptions and real motives are missing, user interviews give direct access to behavior and meaning. Conversations from the target group's everyday life make patterns, tensions, and open questions solidly visible. | ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation. | 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 | Low | Low | High | Low |
Timedifferent | 30–60 min | 30–60 min per interview | Several meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope | 45–90 min |
Participantsdifferent | 4-8 | 1 participant per interview | Evaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders | 3-10 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Interview Notes, Themes, Insight Summary | Prioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigations | Theme clusters, Insight statements, Opportunity areas |
Tagsno overlap | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | QualitativeResearchCustomerDiscovery | ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders | SynthesisQualitativeRoot cause |