[Sigia-l] card sorting

[Boniface Lau]

> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]On 
> Behalf Of Todd R.Warfel
> 
> On Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at 04:28 PM, Boniface Lau wrote:
> 
[...]
> > So, instead of questioning your experience, I simply step you
> > through the process of sorting things into groups.
> 
> There's one major problem with your description. It's not reflective
> of how a card sort typically occurs in real life.

Looking at things from the superficial level, one can even claim that
no two card sorts are exactly alike. There are always some little
things present in one card sort, but not in another. Thus, in a way
all card sorts are different.

But if we look at the core of what makes card sort a card sort, we
notice that the core essence of card sort is the sorting of cards into
groups like that described in:

http://www.info-arch.org/lists/sigia-l/0306/0006print.html

Exactly how big are the cards, whether they are colored, stacked
neatly on each other, or spread out on the floor of a big conference
room are inconsequential with regard to the core.

I hope you can separate the essence from the peripheral. Otherwise,
you will keep insisting that what I described was not the typical
because of some peripheral differences.

Furthermore, don't just be negative by saying, "No, no, no, that is
not it." Be constructive and tell us what is. That means walking us
through your process of sorting cards into group to show us that it
can indeed be done without observing order. Can you?


[...]
> > Since you cannot even walk us through your process, you are NOT
> > equipped to argue with anyone on whether order needs to be
> > observed to sort things into groups.
> 
> Yes, oh enlightened one. You must be correct. 

Oh, just common sense. But thanks anyway. ;-)


Boniface