Information Architecture Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real CIA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Information Architecture Principles flashcards as text
Which card sorting method requires participants to sort cards into pre-defined categories created by the researcher?
Answer: Closed card sort
Closed card sorting asks participants to sort items into predefined categories, testing whether an existing structure is intuitive to users.
A site map in information architecture primarily serves to:
Answer: Visualize the hierarchical structure and relationships between content sections
A site map is an IA deliverable that diagrams the content hierarchy, page groupings, and navigational relationships within a system.
Which organization scheme groups content by the sequence in which tasks must be performed?
Answer: Task-based scheme
A task-based organization scheme structures content around the steps users need to complete a specific goal or workflow.
What is the primary purpose of a 'content inventory' in an information architecture project?
Answer: To catalog all existing content assets, their attributes, and locations
A content inventory systematically lists all content within a system along with metadata like type, owner, format, and status to support IA planning.
In information architecture, 'scent of information' is a concept borrowed from which discipline?
Answer: Information foraging theory
Information foraging theory, adapted from animal foraging behavior, describes how users follow 'information scent' — cues that predict whether a path will lead to their goal.
Which of the following is an example of an 'exact' organization scheme?
Answer: Organizing products alphabetically by name
Exact organization schemes like alphabetical, chronological, or geographical have clear, objective ordering rules that leave no ambiguity about where items belong.
A 'wireframe' deliverable in information architecture is BEST described as:
Answer: A skeletal page layout showing structure, content placement, and functionality without visual design
Wireframes are low-to-mid fidelity structural blueprints of a page that communicate layout and functionality before visual design is applied.