Day 15 - Card Sorting

Card sorting is a technique to find and organize the information architecture of a site or application. The information architecture is the "what goes where" like the heirarchical structure of a menu system.  A test participant in a card sorting study would be given a sets of 3 x 5 note cards with content on them. They would then review the cards so they can group them into logical orders and categories.

Card sorting sessions can help define a structure that reflects your user's desired workflow which will increase their productivity and satisfaction.

1. Get the cards ready. List each content or information type on a separate card and limit to about 100 cards.
2. Use data and comments to find patterns.
3. Create a heirarchy that works for everyone.
4. Combine cluster analysis, dendograms, and comments (what participants said in the sort) to create first pass of information architecture.
5. To inform your analysis, also use:
1. Usability studies
2. Support data
3. Search logs
4. Web logs