Signaalidel

Signaalidel is a Dutch-language term used to describe a stance in which signals or indicators are given disproportionate weight, sometimes at the expense of context or qualitative information. The word blends signaal (signal) with an idol-like connotation, signaling an almost worshipful regard for metrics. The term is chiefly used in discussions of data interpretation, journalism, and policy analysis, where dashboards and indicator lists can shape decisions more than narrative, expertise, or situational nuance.

In practice, signaalidel describes analysts, journalists, or decision-makers who treat a small set of quantitative signals as definitive evidence of cause, effect, or value. This can lead to neglect of confounding factors, historical context, and qualitative input. Proponents argue that indicators are essential for accountability and comparability; critics caution against metric fetishism and overreliance on short-term signals.

Common contexts include corporate dashboards (key performance indicators), risk dashboards, and media coverage that foreground a single statistic as a verdict. Signaalidels may also arise in public policy when dashboards drive policy choices without qualitative assessment or stakeholder input.

Related concepts include data literacy, signal-to-noise ratio, metric fixation, herd behavior, confirmation bias, overfitting, and the narrative fallacy. See also data visualization, performance metrics, indicators, and governance dashboards.