card-sorting-generate

name	card-sorting-generate
description	Generate materials for card sorting studies. Creates detailed lists of content items (cards) for user research and information architecture validation.
required_roles	{"scribe":"roles/scribe.viewer"}
personas	["information-architect","ux-researcher","content-strategist"]

Generate Card Sorting Materials Skill

Prepare the materials necessary for a card sorting study. This skill analyzes content within a directory to generate a list of "cards" representing topics or pages, which can be used in open or closed card sorting exercises to validate categorization.

Inputs

• PATH - The content source directory (e.g., "/help-center")
• DEPTH - (Optional) Depth of directory traversal to select cards (default: 2)
• SAMPLE_SIZE - (Optional) Maximum number of cards to generate (default: 50)
• OUTPUT_FORMAT - (Optional) Output format: "csv", "json", "print-ready" (default: "csv")

Workflow

Step 1: Content Scanning

Scan the PATH to identify potential content items.

• Filter out administrative files or non-content assets.
• Focus on "leaf" nodes (actual pages) or significant section headers.

Step 2: Card Selection

Select a representative sample of content items.

• If total items > SAMPLE_SIZE, use a sampling strategy (e.g., top traffic, strategic importance, or random distribution) to reduce the set.
• Ensure coverage across different sections.

Step 3: Card Formatting

Prepare the data for each card.

• Label: Clean, user-friendly title of the page/topic.
• Description: Short summary or snippet (for context).
• ID: Unique identifier (path or number).

Step 4: Output Generation

Format the list into the requested OUTPUT_FORMAT.

• CSV: Compatible with tools like OptimalSort or Maze.
• JSON: Structured data for custom apps.
• Print-Ready: Formatted for printing and cutting (Markdown/HTML).

Required Outputs

A CARD_SORT_DATASET in the specified OUTPUT_FORMAT.

Example (CSV):

ID,Label,Description,Url
1,How to Reset Password,Instructions for account recovery,/auth/reset
2,Pricing Plans,Overview of subscription tiers,/pricing
3,API Keys,Managing developer credentials,/settings/api

Quick Reference

• Purpose: Prepare for user research to understand how users mentally model information.
• Types: Open Sort (users create categories) vs. Closed Sort (users sort into fixed categories).
• Ideal Size: 30-60 cards for an effective study.