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Criterion
Paper illustration of a branching category tree with a highlighted search path and possible dead ends.
UX Research
Tree Testing
Paper illustration for Causal Factor Analysis.
Operations
Causal Factor Analysis
Paper illustration showing three sorted card stacks and an open question about a possible group.
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 event with a complicated course, the method breaks down the contributing factors along the timeline. It shows how conditions, decisions, and reactions together produce a course of events.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
MediumHighLow
Timedifferent
1-2 Tage2-6 h20-45 min
Participantsdifferent
Based on research question3-10Based on research question
Formatdifferent
AsyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IAEvent Timeline, Causal Factor Chart, Cause List, Corrective ActionsContent groups, Label set, IA hypotheses
Tagsno overlap
Information architectureNavigationFindability
CausalityIncidentRoot causeTimeline
Information architectureNavigationStructure
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Methods with strong topical overlap with the current selection, not yet in the comparison.

Paper illustration of Barrier Analysis with its method-specific working model.
Operations
Barrier Analysis
Paper illustration for Current Reality Tree
Systems Thinking
Current Reality Tree
Paper illustration of Family Tree Analysis with its method-specific working model.
Operations
Family Tree Analysis