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Collaborating with Wikipedians , "the Weirdest People on the Internet"

Collaborating with Wikipedians , "the Weirdest People on the Internet". John D. Farquhar Western Washington University February 23, 2012. First-Year Interest Group Class. 23 Freshmen Taking Psych 101 and Phil 114 Reality Check: Why do people believe in paranormal and fringe ideas?

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Collaborating with Wikipedians , "the Weirdest People on the Internet"

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  1. Collaborating with Wikipedians, "the Weirdest People on the Internet" John D. Farquhar Western Washington University February 23, 2012

  2. First-Year Interest Group Class 23 Freshmen Taking Psych 101 and Phil 114 Reality Check: Why do people believe in paranormal and fringe ideas? Assigned to contribute to existing “stub” Wikipedia articles

  3. Wikipedians = Weird • “Wikipedians are the Weirdest People on the Internet” • By Steven Walling • At Ignite Portland, March 2010 http://youtu.be/hPQxSb4ndC4

  4. Wikipedians = Weird • Steven Walling: • "write an encyclopedia as a hobby" • "obsessive attention to detail" • "quality snobs" • "tolerance for repetitive tasks"

  5. NPOV NOR WP:V AT BLP CV IUP WWIN EP EW NPA ATP CSD DP PRD NAD MOP BP PP GFDL PG IP Wikipedians = weird • Steven Walling: • "50 policies and more than 100 guidelines" • "> 12,000 different acronyms"

  6. Wikipedia core principles • WP:FIVE, WP:5P, or WP:FIVEPILLARS • Anyone can edit • Editors should interact with each other in a respectful and civil manner • Wikipedia does not have firm rules

  7. Who are they really? • Personality Characteristics of Wikipedia Members • YairAmichai–Hamburger, NaamaLamdan, RinatMadiel, and TsahiHayat. CyberPsychology & Behavior. December 2008, 11(6): 679-681. doi:10.1089/cpb.2007.0225 • Concluded: "Wikipedia members scored lower on agreeableness and openness."

  8. Why Study Wikipedia? • Wikipedia as an example of a knowledge base: • What is knowledge? • How do we determine truth? • What is a valid source? • How do we recognize expertise? • How does consensus and social construction play a role in determining truth? • How does the fallibility of human perception, memory, and reasoning impact our beliefs?

  9. Why Study Wikipedia? • Wikipedia Editing Requires Skills in: • Information literacy • Writing • Technology

  10. Class assignment • Make quality improvements to an existing “stub” article on a paranormal topic by: • Reviewing existing references • Locating new references • Evaluating existing discussion on “Talk” page • Reviewing history of changes & participants • Participating in the article discussion • Researching how the article was currently being used • Contributing to article • Navigating the review process

  11. Wikipedia: US Education Program

  12. Articles selected • Shadow people • Pyramid power • Skookum Cast • Cadborosaurus • Cold spot • Vitamin O • Residual Haunting • Earthquake weather • Jackalope • Mediumship • Direct voice • Communual reinforcement • Extrasensory perception

  13. The More Challenging Tasks

  14. The Less Challenging Tasks

  15. Considerations for the Field • Existing models of classroom collaboration assume that all collaborators are class members, and that the cultural norms are framed by the instructor. • Not true of assignments involving Wikipedia or other external systems.

  16. Considerations for future use • Is Wikipedia Editing Appropriate for College Freshmen? • Closely consider the availability of resources • Require greater reference librarian involvement

  17. John D. Farquhar Western Washington University john.farquhar@wwu.edu Wikipedia:United States Education Program User: John.Farquhar

  18. THANK YOU

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