Card Sorting
Tasks set
A card sorting assists
- in identifying the respondents' perception as regards certain terms within the context of a website or a menu
- and thus in understanding how users would go about grouping information.
In this manner we can develop structures that maximise the probability of the users' being able to find information or rather products (again).
Method
- Participants are exposed to cards that show terms; these have to be grouped together according to their similarity as perceived by the respondents.
- Terms that cannot be organized easily are singled out for individual consideration.
- The number of the groups to be organized can be either chosen freely or predetermined.
- In the course of a card sorting that consists of several steps, groups formed during the first run will be further summarised.
- Before the sorting we may also test the understandibility of the terms ("comprehension").
- Furthermore, it is recommendable to let the participants name the groups which they have arranged ("naming").
Phrocess phase
Sample
At least 20 to 30 participants should be estimated for the sample. All in all, more than 40 to 50 respondents will not be necessary; a sample on that scale will suffice to make information structures apparent.
Timing
When adequate terms for the sorting have been determined, a card sorting usually requires 3 weeks of time.
Download fact sheet Card Sorting
