mittavaisuus

Mittavaisuus is a Finnish noun that denotes the quality or state of being adequate, sufficient, or proportionate for a given purpose. It is used to describe how well something fits the needs it is meant to fulfill, whether in terms of quantity, scope, or appropriateness.

Etymology: the term derives from mitta- meaning measure, with the suffixes that form an adjective and the noun -isuus, signaling a state or quality.

Definition and scope: the concept covers both quantitative and qualitative sufficiency of resources, regulatory measures, data, or plans relative to the aims they are intended to achieve. Mittavaisuus is closely linked to but distinct from mitattavuus (measurability) and soveltuvuus (applicability). In legal and policy contexts, mittavaisuus is often used to assess whether a measure is proportionate and necessary to pursue legitimate objectives; measures that lack mittavaisuus may be deemed excessive or ineffective.

Applications: in public administration, evaluating proposed regulations includes examining mittavaisuus to ensure the scope of the rule matches the problem and does not impose unnecessary burdens. In project planning or budgeting, it describes whether resources or timelines are adequate for completing tasks. In research design, it can refer to whether data collection and sample sizes are sufficient to support conclusions.

Examples and usage: common phrases include toimenpiteen mittavaisuus (the adequacy of the measure) and data mittavaisuus (data sufficiency).

See also: mitattavuus, soveltuvuus, suhteellisuus.