tiedonhakutarpeisiin

Tiedonhakutarpeet describe the information that individuals or organizations aim to obtain in order to complete tasks, answer questions, or support decision making. They arise from a specific situation, problem, or knowledge gap, and they guide how people search for, evaluate, and use information. In information science, understanding tiedonhakutarpeet is central to studying information behavior and to designing user-centered information services.

Needs can be explicit or implicit: explicit needs are clearly stated, for example “I need sources on climate policy,” while implicit needs are suggested by behavior, such as repeated searching or difficulty finding satisfactory results. They can be functional (practical tasks and objectives), epistemic (desire to understand or reduce uncertainty), or affective (concerns about credibility, relevance, or trust). The context, task complexity, and user background influence the depth and scope of information sought.

In practice, libraries, archives, and other information services use needs assessment and user research to identify tiedonhakutarpeet and tailor services accordingly. Common methods include interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry, and analysis of search behavior. Outputs often include user personas, task analyses, and improved information interfaces, catalogues, and guides designed to match users’ needs.

The concept is closely linked to theories of information-seeking behavior and to models of information search processes, such as Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process or Case’s ISB framework. These frameworks describe how awareness, exploration, and evaluation stages reflect changing needs over the course of a search, informing how resources are organized and presented and how information literacy education is structured to support users.