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| Criterion |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Operations 8D Problem Solving |  UX Research Empathy Mapping |  UX Research Card Sorting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | 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. | For an acute quality or delivery problem, the method structures immediate protection and root cause work together. It keeps the situation stable while the actual cause is investigated cleanly. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-6 Wochen | 30–60 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 4-10 | 4-8 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | 8D Report, Containment Plan, Root Cause Evidence, Corrective Action Plan | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationFindability | QualityProblem solvingRoot cause | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Information architectureNavigationStructure |