On 6/19/07, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
David Goodman wrote: ....
And it is not just finding sources. It is necessary to find multiple sources in a thorough way, and see what part of the article can be supported, and then do the secondary research necessary to rewrite the article. How many WP editors know how to do this properly? How many of the enthusiasts working on popular culture actually know how to do an adequate job filling the gaps there?
A drive to rapidly source articles will get low-quality sourcing--will get sourcing from what printed textbook happens to be handy which sort of covers the general subject. How were these articles written--many from the old Enc Brittanica, which in turn was written by people who did have access to the proper libraries. We cannot update them without similar facilities.
On the other hand, examine the German WP-- most article are not sourced or are sketchily sourced, and yet of of an average quality way beyond us. Their popular culture is concise summaries of what's important, not long rambling sometimes careless plot summaries. My German has been getting much better since I followed some good advice to check there when needed.
Obviously we want higher standards, but we should not aim beyond our capabilities, and we should not ask for things beyond the actual interests of the WP editors in the project.
You raise a very important point. I often wonder about the extent to which students are taught research skills. Until they are old enough to attend many do not know what wonderful resources may be available in a local university. I often seem to detect an anti-elitism streak among some editors.
Maybe we need some kind of "how to research" instruction to be made available. It would need to recognize that the amount of sourcing needed will indeed vary according to the subject. The common fundamentals of a science that is taught in the schools can adequately be referenced by listing a few popular textbooks without the need to document in detail every single statement. On the other hand, controversial political issues require far more support.
Hmm. Sounds like a Wikimania workshop to me, and/or a series of workshops online. Perhaps a wider support network being built between those with access to resources and those without, or some research done into what editors really *need* to source comprehensively (access? training? motivation through policy or culture? all of this?) ... The problem is a big one, with differences and subtleties depending on the article topic and the language of research, and our sourcing troubles won't be easily solved by either a "let's delete it all tomorrow" or a "let's let it all sit around" approach -- I think it's pretty clear that neither entirely works.
For constructive efforts: did anyone happen to go to Gary Price and j Baumgart's presentation at the last Wikimania on finding good sources*? If so did you find it useful? Would things like this be helpful in the future?
phoebe