What kind of card sort has pre-defined categories for organization?

A closed card sort is characterized by having pre-defined categories into which participants are instructed to sort items. This method is useful when the goal is to determine how users perceive existing categories or to validate the effectiveness of a current organizational structure. In a closed card sort, participants do not create new categories; instead, they utilize the ones provided, which can help researchers analyze whether users’ mental models align with the intended categories of an information architecture.

This method contrasts with open card sorts, where participants generate their own categories, allowing for more flexibility and insight into user thinking; however, it lacks the focus on defined structures. Hybrid card sorts combine elements from both open and closed sorts, allowing for some predefined categories while also permitting users to create their own. Structured card sorts typically refer to a more formalized approach, which can be seen as an extension of closed sorts, but the key distinction remains that closed sorts primarily rely on pre-established categories for organizing items.