User:Tobacman/Academic Research on Wikipedia

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Some Wikipedians have formed a project to better organize information in articles related to Wikidemia, or Academic Research on Wikipedia. This page and its subpages contain their suggestions; it is hoped that this project will help to focus the efforts of other Wikipedians. If you would like to help, please inquire on the talk page and see the to-do list there.

Contents

[edit] Title

WikiProject on Wikidemia; alternatively Academic Research on Wikipedia

[edit] Scope

This WikiProject aims primarily to design, implement, and discuss academic research on Wikipedia. As dedicated Wikipedians, we seek to better understand what promotes or circumscribes Wikipedia's success and why.


[edit] Participants

[edit] Possible Research Questions

  • Who contributes to Wikipedia? (demographics/ education / other volunteerism and community involvement)
  • How does feedback to contributors affect subsequent propensities to contribute?
  • What interventions can increase the quantity and quality of Wikipedia articles?
  • What makes contributeors mad?
  • What makes contributors excited and motivatd?
  • Who reads Wikipedia articles?
  • What interventions can successfully publicize Wikipedia to larger audiences?
  • How can vandalism be decreased or fixed more quickly?
  • How can disputes (eg, edit wars) be resolved more efficiently?


[edit] Methodology

  • many different methodologies would be possible and useful
  • some questions can be examined by direct analysis of existing data
  • i would especially like to run some randomized experiments; this is the only way to be SURE we can draw causal inferences about results.

[edit] Caveats?

  • Privacy
  • Consent to participate
  • Uncertain effects on Wikipedia quality