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4.
There were contradictions in categorization approaches, with some participants favoring a bottom-up approach (grouping items first before assigning labels), while others preferred a top-down approach (creating high-level categories before sorting items within them). This led to some overlapping or misaligned categories, where one participant grouped items by shared characteristics and another established broad categories, complicating data interpretation and aggregation.

Utilizing Questionnaire Data: The final categories—About Us, Accessories, Clothing, Featured, Footer Menu, Get Involved, Mission & Supporters, and Programs & Services—represent a structured organization of content based on user feedback and data analysis. These categories enhance navigation and user experience by grouping related information in a way that aligns with user expectations and behaviors. The categories were designed to be clear, with distinctions between sections that showcase the organization's mission, products, and ways to get involved, providing users with a cohesive and logical browsing experience that also mirrors the navigation of other retail websites.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

In areas where initial card sort results indicated ambiguity regarding content groupings, tree sorting exercises will be conducted. Two distinct tree structures will be designed for sections where participants created overlapping categories, which will be compared with the current website structure and the alternative generated from the open card sort study. This method will be utilized to determine which tree structure better aligns with user expectations and preferences, informing the final decisions on the information architecture.

  • Cards from SocialOutfit.org that require further investigation: Ethical wear, gift, wear the change, inside our workroom, industry supporters, print collaborations, donate fabric, stationery, and get involved.
  • Categories from SocialOutfit.org that require further investigation: Clothing, Accessories, Programs, Shop, About Us, Donate
  • During the tree sorting process, focus on how participants interpret and locate specific cards for tasks, paying particular attention to whether current naming conventions affect the success rate. This will help assess whether the terminology used is clear and understandable or if alternative labels are needed. The tree structures should be designed to reflect user priorities and needs by organizing cards in a hierarchical structure that improves navigation, aligns with user expectations, prioritizes key content areas, and addresses issues such as footer items not being found in the major header, as well as identifying duplications by determining which pathway users take more frequently.