To Moderate Or Not To Moderate In UX Card Sorting

Moderated card sorts

• Typically done in-person
• Usually more expensive and time-consuming
• Requires more coordination
• Allows for user “narration” of sorting choices to provide additional visibility into thought process
• Provides the option for a debrief in which to ask follow-up questions and capture qualitative insights
• Requires additional time and resources for data analysis

Unmoderated card sorts

• Usually done remotely via an online tool
• Tends to be faster and less expensive
• Fairly easy to organize
• May provide shallower qualitative insights
• Often used as a complement to moderated sessions