Tiedontarpeensa

Tiedontarpeensa is a Finnish term used in information science to refer to the information needs of an individual, group, or organization. In practice, it describes what information someone requires to complete a task, make a decision, or satisfy curiosity, and it is often used to frame research on information seeking and retrieval.

Etymology and form: the phrase is a compound built from tiedon (information) + tarve (need) + -nsä (his/her/its own), forming a genitive construction that indicates ownership of the information needs.

Context and usage: the concept is common in Finnish discourse on information behavior, library and information services, and user-centered design. Researchers may identify tiedontarpeensa through interviews, surveys, or task-based studies, and use it to tailor search tools, metadata, or information literacy guidance to users’ needs. The term emphasizes the user’s perspective in the design of information systems and services.

Relationship to broader concepts: tiedontarpeensa aligns with the general notion of information needs in information science and is often discussed alongside information-seeking behavior and user-centered design. While primarily used in Finnish-language scholarship, it corresponds to the universal idea that effective information systems respond to the information needs of their users.

See also: information needs; information-seeking behavior; user-centered design. The phrase is typically translated as “one’s information needs” in English-language contexts.