Card Sorting

Understand how users categorize and organize information to improve information architecture.

Research Classification

Research Type

Attitudinal Behavioral

Behavioral: Focuses on what people do: their actual behaviors and actions.

Data Type

Qualitative Quantitative

Qualitative: Collects non-numerical data like observations, interviews, and open-ended responses.

Requirements

Budget

low

Minimal resources required

Timeline

short

1-2 weeks

Team Size

single

Can be conducted by one person

Research Goals

information_architecture exploratory

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Reveals users' mental models
  • ✓ Can be conducted remotely
  • ✓ Relatively inexpensive
  • ✓ Available as open or closed sorting

Cons

  • × May require large sample sizes for validity
  • × Analysis can be time-consuming
  • × Results may vary between user groups

Use Cases

Example Scenario

Determining how to organize product categories in an e-commerce website navigation.

Additional Applications

  • • Website navigation
  • • App menu structure
  • • Content categorization
  • • Feature grouping