STC UUX Community Newsletter

Donna Spencer's new book, Card Sorting: Designing Usable Categories (2009, Rosenfeld Media) may be a breeze-through read, but don't be fooled by the direct, plain-language style into thinking that you can skim it and walk away a card-sorting expert. The book is meant to be read, used, then read again as a follow-along guide.

The book could have easily been subtitled: A practical guide to the art of the card sort. Spencer loads the book with strategies and techniques, and backs up each one with examples and tools, such as an online spreadsheet that readers can download and use to analyze their card sort results.

As user experience practitioners, we've been indoctrinated into the hallowed halls of The Importance of Card Sorting. Yet how often do we find ourselves wondering if the results are as meaningful as we'd hoped, or wonder how to do a statistical analysis that would make a significant impact on the project - or at least the project manager? Spencer tackles these questions head-on, and offers a balanced perspective on the usefulness of card sorts: do them, do them well, and analyze the results, but don't let the card sort results steer the course. Curb any temptation to build to make product changes based solely on the results of the card sort. Instead, use the results of a card sort as a useful data source to complement a range of techniques. As with any technique, a card sort's usefulness is the fodder for the hopper; the value is in the human analysis that takes place after the computational analysis has been completed.

Card Sorting should prove to be an ideal book for new practitioners - or those new to the card sort - as the organization of the material begins with some basic theory, and works its way through an entire card sort. The narrative-based examples, supplemented by illustrative photos and spreadsheets, are clear and easy-to-follow. For example, the chapter on choosing between an open or closed card sort shows some of the more common software interfaces, populated with typical card sort content. Also, each chapter ends with a Summary/Tips section that captures its highlights, reminding readers of the salient points.

The book is also filled with gems that can help experienced practitioners improve upon their techniques. Spencer covers the "gotchas" that can transform an otherwise smooth card sort exercise into a frustrating experience, and demonstrates ways to salvage card-sorts from going sideways. The book is peppered with quotes from other practitioners, reminding us that the cart sort challenges we face are pretty universal, and we can learn from the collective user experience community.

Two chapters that should be noted are those on analysis, particularly the chapter on statistical analysis. Practitioners whose math skills aren't the strongest will greatly appreciate the "analysis for dummies" clarity with which Spencer tackles the subject. By combining the explanations with the downloadable Excel spreadsheet (template and completed spreadsheet with sample data), even the most calculation-clumsy practitioner can tackle statistics without an anxiety attack.