Informationgap

Informationgap is a term used in multiple disciplines to describe a discrepancy between information that is available and information that is required for analysis, decision making, or communication. In language teaching and linguistics, information-gap tasks are a common category of communicative activity in which two or more participants each hold different pieces of information. They must exchange information to complete a shared objective, thereby practicing speaking, listening, and questioning skills. The concept is associated with communicative language teaching and has been widely used since the late 20th century to foster authentic interaction.

Beyond education, the phrase appears in economics, statistics, and information theory to denote situations involving information gaps or asymmetries. Analysts study how missing or unequal information affects decision making, market efficiency, risk assessment, and policy outcomes. The term can also refer to methodological tools such as gap analyses, which identify missing or incomplete information in datasets, reports, or processes.

Typical information-gap tasks in language learning involve two participants who each know something the other does not. For example, one person might have a map with routes while the other has a timetable; they must ask targeted questions and share answers to reconstruct a complete plan. Effective information-gap activities emphasize meaningful communication, clear information units, and careful reporting of findings, while remaining task- or goal-oriented rather than purely drill-like.

See also: information asymmetry, gap analysis, information theory, communicative language teaching.