Card sorting as a technique in user research is very adaptable and can be customized and used to satisfy many varying research needs. It can be done in person or if it needs to be done on a larger scale it can be done online as well.

Typically card sorts are used most often to evaluate navigation and information architecture for websites. But the way we approached them was very innovative and new to me. We used card sorting to understand what a users mental model was and what information they prioritize. Card sorting can also be used within interviews, to give users specific scenarios and understand how they would approach a task.

To understand card sorting we did an in class demonstration by having two students go through the process as participants. The scenario we used was of a health-related event and how they would approach this to find a doctor in a new location. We used the think aloud protocol to see how the participants made their decisions and their logic behind certain assumptions or expectations.

For the user it almost seems like a more interesting method because they are involved in the process as compared to something like an interview.