Adekvaatsele

Adekvaatsele is a term encountered primarily in Estonian-language discussions about processes of choosing or selecting elements, such as people, resources, or interventions. In its broad sense, the concept denotes a level of adequacy in the selection process or in the resulting set, meaning that the criteria, methods, and outcomes sufficiently meet defined goals without unnecessary excess or shortfall.

Linguistic notes regarding the term indicate it may be a neologism formed from adekvaatne (adequate) with a suffix resembling a noun form related to selection. Because it is not widely standardized across formal dictionaries, its precise usage can vary by author or field. In practice, adekvaatsele is often invoked when authors want to emphasize that a selection procedure is fit-for-purpose, transparent, and aligned with stated objectives.

Contexts and usage

Adekvaatsele appears in policy discussions, organizational guidelines, and scholarly writings that address how candidates, samples, or items are chosen for a given task. It is used to contrast with insufficient or excessive selection, highlighting the balance between thoroughness and efficiency. In empirical research, the concept may relate to sampling criteria, inclusion rules, and the overall quality of the chosen subset.

Related concepts include adequacy, sufficiency, fit-for-purpose, and proportionality. Critics of imprecise use caution that without explicit criteria and measurement, claims of adekvaatsele risk ambiguity.

See also

Adequacy, sufficiency, selection criteria, sampling methods, fairness in selection.