Anna Matysek
Card sorting is one of the fundamental methods in information architecture design, yet few studies have analysed its stability over time. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the categories created by users are consistent and whether the way in which items are assigned to categories changes on subsequent attempts.
Two experiments were conducted with information architecture students, using open and hybrid card sorting. In the first study, participants grouped products from a supermarket’s range, creating their own categories. In the second study, they organised elements of a university website, where they could use existing categories but also propose their own. Both experiments were repeated with the same participants three months later.
The analysis of the results focused on comparing category names and card assignments between the first and second sessions. The consistency of groupings between sessions was examined, and elements susceptible to change were identified. The results show how stable users’ mental models are and whether pre-proposed categories influence the repeatability of categorisation. The study’s findings may be relevant for assessing the durability of information architecture over time.