Elicitation is a research method for systematically drawing out information, knowledge, or requirements from participants through structured techniques including interviews, observation, questioning, and prototyping. It operates by reducing the gap between what people know and what researchers need to capture, using disciplined interaction protocols. [formal: elicitation | substrate: behavior | horizon: hours | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
elicitation
Elicitation is a research method for systematically drawing out information, knowledge, or requirements from participants through structured techniques including interviews, observation, questioning, and prototyping. It operates by reducin…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made research practice: systematically drawing out information, knowledge, or requirements from people through techniques like interviews, observation, and questioning. Built to persist through academic disciplines, UX research, and requirements engineering.
Names and aliases
- elicitationen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Relations to this entry
- cmrvvpzxu02iq2cei5vrmcjij← INSTANCE_OF
A focus-group is a specific kind of elicitation method. A competent speaker would call a focus-group 'a form of elicitation.' Specific→general per Law 9.
- cmrvvc40702hi2cei5zpi8aqv← INSTANCE_OF
The Delphi method is a specific kind of elicitation technique — structured expert elicitation via iterative rounds. A competent speaker would call it 'a form of elicitation.' Specific→general per Law 9.
- cmrvvc40702hi2cei5zpi8aqv← DEPENDS_ON
The Delphi method operates through structured expert elicitation. Remove elicitation and the Delphi method has no operative mechanism — it cannot function without drawing out expert knowledge. Removal test: X (Delphi) stops working without Y (elicitation).
- cmrvvpzxu02iq2cei5vrmcjij← DEPENDS_ON
A focus group operates by eliciting opinions and perspectives from participants. Remove elicitation and the focus group has no means to function — it cannot draw out the collective input that defines it. Removal test: X stops operating without Y.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 22, 2026, 9:20 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 1a2133e053331f516e9055c0cf6c6f7affde3a1112e4f6acdf3ede1afb9e131f