Card sorting is currently in private beta: We're working to add further functionality and improvements. Please contact us via the chat bubble if you would like to discuss early access to this feature.
What is card sorting?
Card sorting is a user research method used to understand how people categorise information. In particular, it is often used in information architecture, to structure and organise the information in a product.
Participants in card sorts are given a set of cards that represent a piece of content or functionality. They then organise the cards into categories that make sense to them.
As a researcher, you can then use this information to find patterns and understand users’ mental models and how they expect information to be structured.
What types of card sort steps are there?
In Ballpark you are able to conduct open, closed or hybrid card sorts in Ballpark. In all card sorts, the researcher predefines the cards, but the each handle categories differently:
Open: Participants create all of the categories to sort cards into
Open can be very valuable in the early stages of your research as participants. They are the most generative as they enable participants are sharing their ideas for new categories without any influence from you as the researcher.
Closed: Participants sort cards into predefined categories
Closed is the most evaluative type of card sort because you are predefining the categories that participants can sort the cards. You can test whether there is full agreement to an existing set of categories or if there is more refinement needed.
Hybrid: Participants sort cards into predefined categories and create their own categories
Hybrid can be a great follow up to an open card sort. You can pre-define categories that had a high agreement in an open card sort, but still allow participants to create categories for the card groupings where there wasn’t enough agreement.
How to add a card sort step
Go any project
Click to Add step in the sidebar
Select Open, Closed or Hybrid card sort
On the left hand side of the step, press Add new card
Enter your card title
Note: You’re also able to add a description and image (optional)
Continue this until you have added all of your cards
If you are creating a closed or hybrid card sort, press Add new category
Enter all of the categories you would like to preset for your participants
You can also customise the instructions or record a video guide to explain the task to your participants
Bulk adding cards and categories is coming soon!
In the meantime, hit enter while in the title field to quickly add more cards
Additional options
You can customise the step by clicking on the Options button at the top right of the step
Option name | Function |
Required step | Make sure participants sort all cards before continuing |
Randomize cards | Display the cards in a random order each time a test is taken |
Max cards per category | Setting a limit on the number of cards that can be added to a category |
Once you are ready to collect responses
There are several ways you can start collecting card sort responses:
Already have your responses? Learn more about analyzing card sort studies.