View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  UX Research Usability Testing |  Architecture Architecture Decision Record |  Product Discovery Assumption Mapping |  Architecture arc42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | When a product is built but people get stuck on tasks, usability testing shows the friction at concrete points. Observed use instead of self-report makes visible where orientation, understanding, or interaction breaks down. | 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 assumptions still sit unordered in the room, it weighs uncertainty against leverage. It makes visible which hypotheses should be checked first. | arc42 structures architecture knowledge so teams can document system, decisions, and risks consistently. The template builds a living understanding of the architecture instead of scattered notes. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | Low | Medium | Low |
Timedifferent | 1-2 h je Session | 15-45 min | 45-60 min | 1-2 Tage |
Participantsdifferent | Based on research question | 1-3 | 2-8 | 1-4 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Async | Workshop + async | Workshop + async |
Outputdifferent | Usability Issues, Severity List, Recommendations | ADR File, Decision Log, Rationale | Assumption map, Test backlog, Risk ranking | Architecture Document, Context View, Runtime View, Deployment View |
Tagsno overlap | ValidationUXPrototype | ArchitectureRationaleDocumentationGovernance | AssumptionsRiskExperimentsValidation | ArchitectureDocumentationCommunication |