Kriteriji

Kriteriji are the standards or rules used to judge, decide, or evaluate something. The term is common in several South Slavic languages, where kriteriji is the plural of kriterij. In English, the corresponding plural is criteria (singular: criterion). Criteria describe the properties by which something is assessed, selected, or measured, and they can apply to people, processes, products, or ideas. They may be quantitative (numbers, thresholds) or qualitative (descriptions, judgments).

Kriteriji are used in a wide range of contexts. In recruitment, eligibility criteria determine who may apply (for example, required education or work experience). In research, inclusion and exclusion criteria specify which subjects participate. In product development and quality assurance, quality criteria define required standards for performance, safety, or durability. In project management, success criteria outline the intended outcomes and the conditions for completion. When multiple criteria are involved, weights or priorities may be assigned to reflect their relative importance.

Good criteria are clear, observable, and verifiable. They should be aligned with goals, applied consistently, and free from bias. If several criteria are used, a method for combining them—such as weighting or a structured decision process—helps produce a transparent overall judgment. Multi-criteria decision analysis is one approach to systematically evaluate options against a set of criteria.

Kriteriji can be subjective or objective. Distinguishing between objective, measurable criteria and subjective judgments is common across fields, including law, education, science, and business. The concept underpins fair assessment, informed selection, and evidence-based decision making.