Uurimise

Uurimise is a term used in Estonian-language contexts to denote the act or process of systematic investigation. It encompasses criminal investigations, administrative inquiries, scientific research, and investigative journalism. The term derives from the Estonian verb uurima (to investigate). The noun form uurimine (investigation) or its genitive form uurimise may appear as a label for a study or process, and in some contexts it is capitalized as a proper noun when referring to a specific program or institution.

In legal and administrative contexts, uurimine refers to an official inquiry conducted by authorities to determine facts, establish responsibility, or inform decision-making. In science and academia, uurimine denotes the research process including hypothesis formation, data collection, analysis, and reporting, with emphasis on reproducibility and methodological rigor. In journalism, uurimise describes in-depth, source-based investigations that seek to uncover information of public interest, often involving data journalism and source protection.

Key principles across uses include objectivity, evidence-based reasoning, transparency, and respect for ethical and legal guidelines. Typical stages include planning, evidence gathering, evaluation, corroboration, and dissemination of findings. The outcomes of uurimine may be legal decisions, scholarly contributions, or public disclosures.

See also: investigation, research methodology, forensic science, investigative journalism, inquiry.