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Card sorting is a manual technique used to sort information into categories for easy user access. Two types, open and closed, are used based on the site being developed. Mental models are used to group cards, and statistical software is used to analyze results. Card sorting is cost-effective and resembles how real users would use a website, but may not reflect user activities and can vary between individuals.
Card sorting is a technique used in information processing to sort items into groups that people using a system, usually a website, can easily locate. This technique is a relatively simple method of sorting information into various categories because it is done manually by real people using index cards. Individuals are chosen based on whether they represent a typical user of the website. There are two main types of card sorting, open card sorting and closed card sorting, and they are done according to the type of site being developed.
The models that people choose when sorting cards are known as the users’ mental models. Each person is given a set of cards with titles on them that represent major parts of the website, and they are asked to group the cards in a way that makes sense for each one. Once the people who have been selected to perform the card sorting are finished, the information can be entered into statistical software and analyzed to determine the optimal organization for the site. The individuals chosen for the card sorting process are often representative of the website’s users. The more people an organization chooses to use in the card sorting process, the more likely the results are to be accurate and reflect the thoughts of real users.
Sorting of open cards is done when participants are given cards that have no existing groups. Each individual sorts the cards into groups that make sense to him or her, and this method is most often used when a new site is being established. The closed card sort contains some groups that are already established and the participants are asked to add new cards to the existing categories. This method is most often used when a website is updated or when new information is added.
The reasons organizations use card sorting vary, but include its simplicity and cost-effectiveness as a technique for organizing. Due to the fact that real people are arranging the cards, it is thought to resemble how real users would use the website. It’s also a good starting point for creating or making changes to a website. Problems with the method include that the information is not organized according to the activities real users are expected to perform on the website, as well as the variance in the responses that can be found from person to person.
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