elicitationMethode

ElicitationMethod, sometimes written as elicitationMethode in German contexts, refers to a deliberate set of techniques used to obtain information from people, systems, or documents. The goal is to collect knowledge that may not be readily accessible through direct inquiry, while aiming to minimize bias and disruption. Elicitation methods are applied across multiple domains, including requirements gathering for systems and software, intelligence and security, market research, and social science research.

In practice, elicitation methods can be categorized by source and approach. Direct methods involve intentional questioning and dialogue, such as interviews and surveys. Indirect methods rely on extracting information without direct prompts, such as observation, document analysis, or the study of artifacts. Group-based methods include workshops, focus groups, and collaborative sessions that encourage participants to reveal needs and constraints. In modern settings, digital and mixed-methods approaches may combine forms of inquiry with data analysis, analytics, and simulations.

In software engineering and requirements engineering, elicitation is a preliminary phase where stakeholders’ needs are identified, clarified, and prioritized before design and implementation. In other contexts, elicitation supports intelligence gathering, competitive analysis, or consumer insights, always with attention to ethics, legality, and privacy.

Key considerations include planning and scoping the elicitation effort, obtaining informed consent, managing biases and misinterpretations, ensuring confidentiality where appropriate, and evaluating the quality and completeness of the gathered information. See also requirements elicitation, market research methods, OSINT, and information-gathering techniques.