Stolperquellen

Stolperquellen is a German neologism used to describe sources of stumbling blocks that impede understanding, decision-making, or progress in research, analysis, or communication. The term combines Stolpern (to stumble) and Quellen (sources), and is employed in German-language discourse to refer to factors that can cause misinterpretation, error, or delay without implying a fixed taxonomy.

Typical Stolperquellen include inconsistent terminology and classifications, unclear provenance or metadata, conflicting or incomplete data, untested assumptions, and cognitive biases. They can also arise from organizational barriers, time pressure, or regulatory constraints that hinder transparent reasoning or verification.

In practice, the concept is used to map obstacles along a workflow or in a communicative chain so they can be mitigated. Remedies may involve standardizing terminology, improving data provenance and metadata, triangulating sources, documenting limitations, preregistering methods, and increasing transparency in reporting and review processes. The framework is often applied in fields such as science communication, journalism, data analysis, policy planning, and education, where clear reasoning and reliable information are crucial.

Critics argue that Stolperquellen are not a standardized category and can be vague or overlap with established ideas such as pitfalls, biases, or limitations. Proponents, however, view it as a useful, inclusive label for identifying and addressing a broad set of obstacles to rigorous thinking and effective communication.

See also Stolpersteine, pitfalls, biases, data quality, risk management.