Tutkimusalueittain

Tutkimusalueittain is a Finnish term meaning “by research area” and is used to describe the organization or presentation of data according to disciplines or fields of study. In Finnish research reporting, it denotes sorting results, outputs, or activities by field rather than by institution alone.

The approach is common in universities, research funding agencies, and national statistics, where it is used to analyze research performance, outputs, funding, collaboration, and impact by field. Classification relies on a taxonomy of research areas, which may include broad domains such as natural sciences, engineering, health sciences, social sciences, and humanities, as well as narrower subfields. Data can be compiled for publications, funded projects, personnel, or patent activity and then presented “tutkimusalueittain” to enable cross-field comparisons and trend analyses.

Using “tutkimusalueittain” supports policy decisions and resource allocation by highlighting strengths and gaps across disciplines. It also aids benchmarking, international comparisons, and transparency in reporting. The effectiveness of this approach depends on a consistent classification scheme, and interdisciplinary work that spans multiple fields may require careful reconciliation. Challenges include changes in taxonomy, inconsistencies in assignment, and variations between institutions or agencies.

An example is a university annual report that presents the number of publications, funding, and citations “tutkimusalueittain” for each major field, allowing stakeholders to see where research activity is concentrated and where impact is rising.