UX Research Glossary

A closed card sort asks participants to organize items into predefined categories. Learn when to use closed card sorting to validate your existing IA and category labels.

A hybrid card sort combines open and closed approaches, allowing participants to use predefined categories or create their own, offering flexibility in research.

An open card sort lets participants organize items into groups and name their own categories, revealing how users naturally think about information.

Content strategy is the planning and management of content to meet business goals and user needs. Learn frameworks for creation, governance, and ongoing optimization.

A content audit inventories every page on your site to find gaps, duplicates, and outdated content. Learn how audits feed into card sorting studies.

Agreement rate measures how consistently card sorting participants place the same card into the same category, revealing consensus strength in your information architecture.

A similarity matrix shows how often card sorting participants grouped pairs of items together. Learn how to read and use similarity matrices to strengthen your IA.

Statistical significance tells you whether card sorting patterns are real or random. Learn what p-values and confidence levels mean for IA research.

Information foraging theory explains how users hunt for content online. Learn how scent trails and IA design affect user search behaviour.

A task flow maps the steps a user takes to complete a single goal. Learn how task flows inform card sorting and navigation structure decisions.

A taxonomy is a hierarchical classification system that organizes content into categories and subcategories, providing structure for navigation and findability.

Wayfinding is how users orient themselves and navigate through digital spaces. Learn how card sorting and tree testing improve wayfinding cues.

A minimum viable product (MVP) is the simplest version of your product that delivers real value. Learn how to scope an MVP that validates assumptions and reduces risk.

Card sorting participants sort items into groups that make sense to them. Learn how to recruit, screen, and brief participants for reliable results.

Competitive analysis compares your product's UX against rivals. Learn how to audit competitor navigation and use findings to improve your own IA.

A focus group gathers 6-10 users to discuss their experiences and expectations. Learn how focus groups complement card sorting in UX research.

Jobs to Be Done reframes user research around outcomes, not features. Learn how JTBD thinking improves card sorting and IA decisions.

The Kano model classifies features by user satisfaction impact. Learn how delight, performance, and basic needs shape UX prioritization decisions.

Label testing evaluates whether category names make sense to users. Learn how to test navigation labels before launching your new IA.

A Likert scale measures agreement or satisfaction on a numbered scale. Learn how to design and analyze Likert-scale questions for UX research.

Mental model mapping visualises how users think about a domain. Learn how this technique pairs with card sorting to build user-centred navigation.

Moderated testing involves a researcher guiding participants through UX tasks in real time. Learn when live facilitation gives you richer insights.

Remote UX research lets you test with participants anywhere in the world. Learn how to run card sorts, tree tests, and surveys without a lab.

A reverse card sort asks participants to find items within a predefined structure. Learn when to use it and how it differs from standard card sorting.

How many participants do you need for reliable card sorting results? Learn sample size guidelines for open, closed, and hybrid card sorts.

Stakeholder interviews uncover business goals and constraints before UX research begins. Learn how to run them and use insights to scope card sorts.

Good survey design captures user preferences without introducing bias. Learn how to write clear questions that support your card sorting research.

Unmoderated testing lets participants complete UX tasks independently without a researcher present. Learn when it works best and how to set it up.

Accessibility means designing products usable by people of all abilities, including those with disabilities. Learn key a11y principles and how to apply them in UX.

User experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of a user's interaction with a company, its services, and products, focusing on ease of use and satisfaction.

Navigation is the system of menus, links, and cues that helps users find content in your site or app. Learn navigation best practices that reduce user frustration.

A prototype is an early model of your product built to test ideas and gather feedback before development. Learn which prototype type fits each stage of your process.

Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action on your site. Learn how to calculate, benchmark, and improve your conversion rate over time.

A/B testing compares two versions of a page or feature to see which performs better with real users. Learn how to design, run, and analyze A/B tests that drive results.

Accessibility testing evaluates whether digital products work for people with disabilities. Learn methods, tools, and WCAG standards to build inclusive designs.

An affinity diagram organizes research data into natural groupings based on themes. Learn how to use affinity mapping to find patterns in UX research.

An affordance is a design property that signals how an element can be used. Learn how affordances guide user interaction and improve interface usability.

A breakpoint is the screen width where a responsive layout adapts to a new size. Learn how to set breakpoints that create seamless cross-device experiences.

Card sorting is a UX research method where users group content into categories. Discover how card sorting reveals mental models and improves your site's IA.

Cluster analysis groups similar data points to reveal patterns in card sorting results. Learn how clustering methods help you build better information architecture.

Cognitive load measures how much mental effort a task requires. Understand the three types and learn practical techniques to reduce overload in your UX designs.

Content hierarchy ranks information by importance to guide users through your pages. Learn how to structure content that improves readability and engagement.

Contextual inquiry is a field research method where you observe users in their real environment. Learn how this approach uncovers insights interviews alone miss.

Conversion rate optimization (CRO) increases the percentage of visitors who take a desired action. Learn proven CRO techniques to boost conversions on your site.

A dendrogram is a tree diagram used to visualize card sorting clusters. Learn how to read dendrograms and use them to improve your information architecture.

A design sprint is a five-day process for solving problems through prototyping and user testing. Learn how to run sprints that validate ideas quickly and cheaply.

A design system is a collection of reusable components and guidelines ensuring product consistency. Learn how to build and maintain a system that scales with your team.

A diary study is a UX research method where participants log experiences over time. Learn how diary studies reveal long-term behavior patterns and user needs.

Ethnographic research immerses researchers in users' real environments to observe natural behaviors. Learn how this method uncovers deep insights that surveys miss.

Eye tracking records where users look when viewing an interface, providing objective attention data. Learn how to use eye tracking to optimize layouts and content.

A feedback loop is the cycle where user actions trigger system responses that shape future behavior. Learn how to design feedback loops that improve UX over time.

Findability measures how easily users can locate information in your product. Learn techniques to improve findability through better navigation, labels, and search.

First click testing measures where users click first when completing a task. Learn how this fast, affordable usability method predicts overall task success rates.

Gamification applies game mechanics like points, badges, and rewards to non-game products. Learn how gamification boosts user engagement, retention, and motivation.

A heat map visualizes user behavior by showing where people click, scroll, and look on a page. Learn how to use heat maps to optimize your layout and conversions.

Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection where experts review an interface against established principles. Learn how to run one and fix usability issues fast.

Information architecture (IA) is the structural design of content that enables intuitive navigation. Learn IA principles, methods, and tools to organize your site.

Information scent is the set of cues that help users predict where a link or path will lead. Learn how to strengthen scent so users find content without guessing.

Interaction design (IxD) shapes how users engage with digital products through intuitive interfaces. Learn core IxD principles and patterns that improve usability.

A journey map visualizes every step a user takes when interacting with your product over time. Learn how to create journey maps that reveal pain points and opportunities.

A mental model is a user's internal understanding of how a system works. Learn how to align your product design with user mental models to create intuitive experiences.

A microinteraction is a small, focused moment where a user completes a single task in your product. Learn how to design microinteractions that delight and inform.

A mockup is a high-fidelity visual of your product's design without working functionality. Learn when to use mockups and how they fit into your design workflow.

Multivariate testing compares multiple variables and combinations on a page to find the best-performing version. Learn when to use MVT instead of simple A/B tests.

A navigation pattern is a proven layout for organizing how users move through your site or app. Explore common patterns and learn which ones work best for your product.

Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures customer loyalty by asking how likely users are to recommend your product. Learn how to calculate, benchmark, and act on NPS data.

Onboarding is the process of guiding new users to value in your product. Learn proven onboarding patterns that reduce churn and accelerate time-to-first-value.

Participatory design involves end users directly in the design process as co-creators. Learn methods and workshops that turn user collaboration into better products.

Progressive disclosure reveals information gradually, showing details only when users need them. Learn how this UX technique reduces cognitive load.

Prototype fidelity is the level of detail and polish in a prototype, from low-fi sketches to high-fi mockups. Learn how to choose the right fidelity for each stage.

Responsive design ensures your website adapts seamlessly to any screen size or device. Learn the principles, breakpoints, and techniques for fluid, flexible layouts.

A screen reader converts on-screen text into speech or braille for visually impaired users. Learn how to design interfaces that work with screen readers.

Sentiment analysis identifies whether user feedback is positive, negative, or neutral. Learn how to apply sentiment analysis to UX research and product decisions.

A sitemap is a visual diagram of your website's page structure and hierarchy. Learn how to create sitemaps that improve navigation, SEO, and content organization.

The System Usability Scale (SUS) is a 10-question survey that scores product usability from 0 to 100. Learn how to administer SUS and interpret your score.

Task analysis breaks down how users complete activities to achieve their goals. Learn structured methods for mapping tasks and identifying steps you can simplify.

Task success rate is the percentage of users who complete a task without help. Learn how to measure, benchmark, and improve this essential usability metric.

Think aloud protocol asks users to verbalize their thoughts while completing tasks. Learn how this UX method reveals reasoning and uncovers usability issues.

Tree testing evaluates how easily users find items in your site's navigation. Learn how to run tree tests that validate your information architecture.

Usability metrics quantify how effectively users interact with your product. Learn the key metrics to track and how to use them to drive measurable UX improvements.

Usability testing observes real users interacting with your product to find issues before launch. Learn how to plan, run, and analyze usability tests effectively.

A user flow maps the steps someone takes to complete a task in your product. Learn how to create user flows that streamline paths and eliminate unnecessary friction.

A user journey maps the complete experience a user has with your product, from initial awareness through post-purchase, revealing pain points and opportunities.

A user persona is a research-based profile representing a key segment of your audience. Learn how to create personas that keep your team aligned on real user needs.

User research is the systematic study of your audience's needs, behaviors, and motivations. Explore key methods and learn how research drives better product decisions.

Explore the most common UX research methods, from card sorting to usability testing. Learn when to use each technique and how to gather actionable user insights.

A wireframe is a low-fidelity blueprint showing the layout and structure of a page before visual design. Learn when and how to wireframe for faster iteration.

Usability heuristics are broad rules of thumb for evaluating interface design. Learn how Nielsen's 10 heuristics relate to IA and card sorting.

Error rate tracks how often users make mistakes during a task. Learn how this metric exposes confusing navigation and validates card sorting changes.

Learnability measures how quickly new users master your interface. Learn how card sorting and clear IA improve first-time task completion rates.

Time on task measures how long users take to complete an action. Learn how this core usability metric reveals navigation and IA problems.

Learn user-centered design principles, process, and methods. Discover how UCD improves product usability, increases user satisfaction, and drives business results.