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| Criterion |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Engineering Golden Path |  Operations ALPEN Method |  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 teams need a reliable default path for frequent use, sprawl quickly emerges without any guiding logic. Golden Path bundles the preferred path so good practice becomes easy and deviation becomes deliberate. | With an overloaded day full of too many tasks, a realistic picture of the day emerges. The method connects estimating, deciding, and buffer thinking so planning fits available energy and time. | 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 | Medium | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-3 Tage Setup, laufend | 10-20 min daily | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 2-8 | 1 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Golden Path Guide, Templates, Quality Checks | Daily Plan, Time Estimates, Review Notes | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationFindability | EngineeringProductivityGovernance | PlanningTime managementProductivityOperations | Information architectureNavigationStructure |