[Sigia-l] card sorting: dealing with multiple placements

[Boniface Lau]

> From: lists at mk27.com [mailto:lists at mk27.com]
> Todd R. Warfel
> 
> On Sunday, June 1, 2003, at 07:28 PM, Boniface Lau wrote:
> 
> > But for participants to successfully group things, they have to
> > observe the order among groups.
> 
> I've done a few hundred card sorts on content inventories (which is
> what I'm referring to when speaking of card sorts in IA) and have
> never had an issue with participants observing an "order" among
> groups.

I did not say that it was an issue with the participants. In fact I
don't expect it being an issue. People are good at observing the order
among things.

However, observing the order among groups, regardless of how easy it
is, is still required for successful grouping.


> The participants observe piles, but not an order in the sense of a
> traditional order (e.g. sequence).

I don't know what you are trying to say. Please elaborate.


> 
> > For illustration, let's say there is a stack of cards...
> >
> > We know that "21" is already on the table. And it is ordered as the
> > second of the three groups. So, we need to place "28" onto the second
> > group. That is observing order. Thus, we maintain the three groups in
> > the following order: (12), (21, 28), (33).
> >
> > Thus, successful grouping requires that order be observed...
> 
> The problem with this illustration is that you're assuming the 
> participants will place the content cards in a sequential order, 

What do you mean by "sequential order"?


> or some order within the group.

The illustration does not assume anything about order within groups.


> This is not necessary for a successful content inventory (card)
> sort. Perhaps this is where you've misunderstood the process of how
> a typical card sort on content inventories is done. As mentioned
> above, typically, participants lump the content cards into piles
> that make a group, not a sequential order as you're sighting above
> (first card, second card, third card).

What sequential order are you referring to?

I did not mention any first card, second card, or third card. However,
I did mention first, second, and third as a way to step through the
illustration.


[...]
> Have you done content inventory card sorts in the past, or are you 
> referring to a different type of card sort?

This thread has been about card sort. Now you mention "inventory card
sort". I assume it is a type of card sort. May be you can tell us how
you do "inventory card sort".


Boniface