How do I complete a card sort?

What is a card sort?

Do I need to talk when completing a card sort?

How do I submit my completed card sort?

What is a card sort?

Card sorting is a way to test the organization of content. Traditionally, this kind of study was done in person, with actual index cards, but now there are online tools that present you with digital "cards" to sort into categories. Your task as a test participant will be to group those cards together in whatever way makes sense to you.

Sometimes, you’ll be given a set of categories to sort the cards into, and other times, you’ll be able to name the categories yourself. Both methods help customers understand how they should organize the content on their site or app. Unless otherwise specified, please make sure to sort all of the available cards into groups.

Do I need to talk when completing a card sort?

Yes! Customers want to know the reasoning behind why you sort the cards the way you do. Make sure to explain your thoughts as you complete the card sort, especially focusing on any cards that you find confusing or that you don’t think fit well in any category. Explain what makes you hesitate as you sort the cards, whether it’s a simple issue of terminology or a genuine feeling that the card just doesn’t belong.

How do I submit my completed card sort?

❗️Please make sure to submit your card sort before stopping your recording. If you do not submit your card sort, the customer will not receive your results and you may not be paid.❗️

Some tools may prompt you to submit your card sort when you finish sorting all the cards.

If you need more time or are not prompted when you’re done sorting, look for a “Done” or “Finished” button on the page, often in the top-right corner. You may need to move the UserTesting recorder out of the way to find this button.

Once you submit your card sort results and see a success message, return to the tasks in the UserTesting recorder.