preselection

Preselection refers to an initial screening step that narrows a large pool of options to a smaller, more relevant subset before a subsequent process such as selection, analysis, or decision making.

In politics, preselection (also called candidate selection) is the process by which a party identifies and endorses candidates who will stand in elections. Methods vary by country and party and may include primaries, caucuses, internal ballots, conventions, or committee decisions. The preselection stage can influence policy emphasis, factional balance, and campaign funding, and it may be open to broader participation or restricted to party members.

In data analysis and scientific research, preselection covers data pre-processing and feature pre-selection. It includes data cleaning, filtering out noise, and selecting a subset of variables or records to reduce computational demands and improve model performance. In particle physics, preselection cuts are used to suppress background events before detailed analysis.

In engineering and communications, preselection can refer to preselector filters in radio receivers that exclude signals outside a target band, improving sensitivity and reducing interference. In human resources and recruitment, preselection describes initial candidate screening to discard applicants who do not meet basic requirements.

Limitations include potential bias and loss of valuable cases if the preselection is too aggressive or poorly defined. Effective preselection should be transparent, well-documented, and periodically reassessed to align with goals. See also: screening, feature selection, selection process.