Tutkittavuus

Tutkittavuus is a Finnish concept describing the degree to which a phenomenon, claim, or process can be investigated, scrutinized, or studied further. The term emphasizes the accessibility of information, data, methods, and arguments needed to examine, evaluate, or replicate a case. It is built from the verb tutkita (to investigate) with the suffix -vuus, forming an abstract noun.

In scientific research, tutkittavuus relates closely to reproducibility and verifiability. High tutkittavuus is achieved when methods are clearly documented, data are available, analyses are transparently reported, and definitions of variables are explicit. This facilitates other researchers’ ability to inspect, reanalyze, or replicate results, thereby strengthening credibility and the accumulation of knowledge. Low tutkittavuus, by contrast, indicates barriers to verification, such as opaque procedures, restricted data access, or proprietary software.

Beyond academia, tutkittavuus is relevant in journalism, public administration, and auditing, where it describes how easily information can be examined by outsiders. Characteristics such as accessible records, audit trails, and transparent decision-making processes contribute to accountability and public trust.

Related concepts include verifiability, transparency, traceability, and reproducibility. While these terms intersect differently across disciplines, tutkittavuus captures the practical capacity to investigate and verify claims, ensuring that observations and conclusions can be examined by others. Practical measures to improve tutkittavuus include open data practices, detailed methodological documentation, preregistration, and accessible analytical code.