Card sorting

Definition

Card sorting is a user experience research method used to help design or evaluate the information architecture of a website or application. By having participants organize topics into categories that make sense to them, researchers gain insights into how users perceive and group information, leading to improved navigation and usability.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Card sorting can be conducted in two main types: open card sorting, where participants create their own categories, and closed card sorting, where predefined categories are given.
2. This method is particularly useful for understanding user mental models and ensuring that website content aligns with user expectations.
3. The results from card sorting can inform decisions about menu structures, navigation paths, and labeling of content on websites.
4. Card sorting can be conducted both in-person and online, making it flexible for different research contexts.
5. Analyzing card sorting results often involves looking at common groupings and consensus among participants to identify patterns in how information should be structured.

Review Questions

• How does card sorting contribute to improving user experience in digital products?
  • Card sorting helps improve user experience by revealing how users categorize and think about information. By engaging real users in the sorting process, designers can understand their mental models and ensure that the structure of the website or application aligns with user expectations. This alignment leads to more intuitive navigation and easier access to content, ultimately enhancing user satisfaction.
• Compare and contrast open and closed card sorting methods, and discuss when each would be appropriate to use.
  • Open card sorting allows participants to create their own categories based on how they perceive the information, making it ideal for exploratory research where user input is crucial. Closed card sorting provides predefined categories for participants to sort items into, which is useful for testing specific structures or refining an existing organization. The choice between these methods depends on whether the goal is to discover new categories or validate an existing structure.
• Evaluate the impact of analyzing card sorting results on the overall design process of a website or application.
  • Analyzing card sorting results has a significant impact on the overall design process as it provides concrete insights into user preferences and behaviors regarding information organization. This analysis helps designers identify common groupings and patterns among users, guiding decisions on navigation and content labeling. By grounding design choices in actual user data, teams can create more effective and user-friendly digital experiences that cater to the needs of their target audience.

Related terms

Information Architecture: The structural design of shared information environments, focusing on organization, labeling, navigation, and search systems to enhance usability.

Usability Testing: A technique used to evaluate a product by testing it with real users, focusing on how easy and satisfying the product is to use.

User-Centered Design: A design philosophy that places the user at the center of the design process, ensuring that products meet their needs and preferences.