Card Sorting Exercise: Information for Volunteers
Purpose
A card sorting exercise asks representative users of an application
or web site to work (usually individually) with a pack of cards
containing topics from a web site or from navigation menus in an
application. Users group related topics and tasks into an organization
that makes sense from their perspective.
The results of card sorting help the owners and designers of a
web site or application to:
- understand how users are likely to categorize and find information
- identify terminology that is likely to be misunderstood
- organize the site in the most helpful way
The set of cards to be sorted represents selected high level topics
or menu items from the site or application.
Time,
Environment, and Materials
Sorting can take up to half an hour.
Card sorting requires a large table so that cards can be spread
out. A member of the Usability @ MIT group can sit in the same room
or in another room -- in case the user has questions about a card
or the task.
Materials
- a copy of these instructions
- set of cards with topic names
Note: Cards should be well shuffled, so
that they are in random order.
- extra blank cards
- pen
- rubber bands
- sticky notes
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Instructions for
the Volunteer
- Place cards for related topics next to each other.
Note: Make as many or as few categories as you
like. Don't agonize over your decisions. You are encouraged
to make subcategories and hierarchical relations from the groups
you create.
- If a card belongs in more than one group, copy its name onto
a blank card, and put one card in each category. Make a note on
the cards that says "also in [category x]".
- If you think of a topic or a high level category that you'd
like to see on the site or on the application menu, write its
name on a blank card and add the card to the appropriate pile.
- If a topic does not seem to fit into any category, create a
category called "other", "general", or "unknown".
- If a member of the Usability group is nearby, feel free to ask
questions.
- When you have finished sorting, you may want to use sticky notes
with comments as needed for categories or subcategories. This
will give the owners and designers a sense of why you consider
those topics a group; the category name doesn't have to be perfect.
- After you have set up the categories and subcategories, group
them using elastics.
- Record the following information on a sticky for the set of
cards as a whole:
- Your name
- email address
- department
- your status -- staff, undergrad, grad, faculty, etc.
When all card sorting sessions are completed, the results will
be tabulated and reported to the client.
The participation of users is highly appreciated, and they will
receive a gift coupon!
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Additional Information
Information
& Design, What is Card Sorting?
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