methodatlas
Compare

View methods side by side.

Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.

Criterion
Six paper cards show a person moving from a problem through a service flow to a completed outcome.
UX Design
Storyboarding
Paper illustration of a Concept Map with concepts and labelled links
Knowledge Modeling
Concept Mapping
Paper illustration showing three sorted card stacks and an open question about a possible group.
UX Research
Card Sorting
Paper illustration of a branching category tree with a highlighted search path and possible dead ends.
UX Research
Tree Testing
Purposedifferent
When a usage scenario needs to become understandable early, it condenses situations, context, and flow into a legible sequence. It helps check concept ideas before anything gets built.Concept Mapping arranges terms and relationships in a network that makes subject-matter connections tangible. It fits when a topic needs to be understood structurally rather than linearly.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 navigation exists but search paths still fail, tree testing checks findability without visual distraction. The method shows whether labels, levels, and paths really lead to the intended destination.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumLowMedium
Timedifferent
30-90 min1-2 h20-45 min1-2 Tage
Participantsdifferent
1-81-8Based on research questionBased on research question
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncAsync
Outputdifferent
Storyboard, Concept Narrative, Testable AssumptionsConcept Map, Relationship Labels, Knowledge GapsContent groups, Label set, IA hypothesesFindability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA
Tagsno overlap
VisualizationConceptsSequencePrototype
KnowledgeConceptsMappingSensemaking
Information architectureNavigationStructure
Information architectureNavigationFindability
Add more methods