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| Criterion |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Innovation Design Sprint |  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. | When the product question is unclear and time pressure is high, the method takes a team from an open idea to a testable solution. It connects problem understanding, decision, and learning in one compact format, lowering the risk of spending a lot of energy on a mere guess. | 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 | 4-5 Tage | 30–60 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 5-8 | 4-8 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Workshop | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Prototype, Test Findings, Decision Rationale | Empathy Map, Assumptions List, Research Gaps | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationFindability | Design sprintPrototypeValidationInnovation | SynthesisQualitativeWorkshop | Information architectureNavigationStructure |