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| Criterion |  UX Research Tree Testing |  Architecture Software Architecture Canvas |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  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. | The Software Architecture Canvas reduces a system to the most important architecture decisions, constraints, and interfaces. It is useful when teams need a resilient overall picture quickly. | An ADR permanently records an architecture decision with context, trade-offs, and consequence. It creates continuity for later changes because the decision path stays traceable. | 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 | Low | Low | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 Tage | 1-2 h | 15-45 min | 20-45 min |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 3-10 | 1-3 | Based on research question |
Formatdifferent | Async | Workshop | Async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Findability Metrics, Path Analysis, Revised IA | Architecture Canvas, Goals, Constraints, Quality Attributes | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Content groups, Label set, IA hypotheses |
Tagsno overlap | Information architectureNavigationFindability | CanvasArchitectureAlignmentWorkshop | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | Information architectureNavigationStructure |