CART SORTING

Visualizing a Mental Process

Card sorting is a qualitative research tool used to gauge structure, relevance, and order with a tangible outcome. In a card sorting session, participants organize topics (cards) into categories and help you label these groups. Creators and users most often have different mental models of structure. Card sorting aids in bridging the gap and creating a more user-focused system.

The two types of card sorts most often used:

Open: Participants are asked to organize topics from content into groups that make sense and then name each group in a way that the participant feels describes the content. Open card sorts show how users group content and the terms or labels they give each category.

Closed: Participants are asked to sort topics from content into pre-defined categories. This works best when you want to learn how users sort content items into existing categories.

PROCESS

While card sorts are often used for information architecture of a website, they are also helpful in understanding a process. In class we created a scenario about navigating a medical issue and subsequently finding a doctor. To begin, the entire class brainstormed words associated with this process, which were transcribed to index cards and piled onto a desk. Two students then demonstrated the process using ‘think aloud protocol as the rest of the class observed and provided instructions only when absolutely necessary.

REFLECTIONS

Create a Practice Scenario

Sorting cards while thinking aloud is not a common activity. It seemed to get easier as the participant became more comfortable with the process and what was expected. Start with a simple organization and promote thinking aloud for an unrelated topic to loosen up the participant.

Make sure the Scenario Question is Clear.

The goals of the research should be clearly articulated to the participant. If there are questions about the process, the research may be tainted. Setup you participant with easy to follow and explicit instruction that clear up anything that may confuse the participant.