Research:Why readers trust Wikipedia/Study information

Overview

This study on the role of citations in how readers evaluate Wikipedia articles is a research collaboration between Wikimedia Foundation Research and Drexel University. It is about how people assess the quality of Wikipedia articles. We’re aiming to improve Wikipedia and your input will help us a lot.

Researchers:

• Jonathan Morgan, Wikimedia Foundation
• Andrea Forte, Drexel University, aforte@drexel.edu
• Houda El Mimouni, Drexel University

Why you are being asked to participate

In March 2019, you took a survey and answered questions about Wikipedia and a specific article you were reading at the time. At the end of that survey, you volunteered to be contacted for a possible follow-up interview study. Thank you for participating in the survey and also for offering to do a follow up interview.

What you're being asked to do

What we’re asking you to do today is participate in an interview that should take anywhere from 30-90 minutes, depending on how much you have to say. The interview is, in part, based on the survey questions that you answered in March 2019 about the quality of a Wikipedia article that you were reading at the time.

With your permission, this interview will be recorded for research purposes. We record interviews so that the researchers can review the information later and analyze it to identify themes and patterns.

Participation in this research is voluntary and you may decline to participate in the interview or stop at any time.

Risk and compensation

There's little risk to you in participating in this research, we won't store identifying data and we will not ask you about sensitive information. If you do not wish to answer any of the questions, you can decline and we're fine with that. In fact, if you choose to remove yourself from the study, you can do that at any time.

There is no compensation for participating.

Questions?

If you have questions about this research, you can contact Jonathan Morgan at Wikimedia Foundation, Andrea Forte (215-895-0543) at Drexel University.

The research has been reviewed by Drexel University's IRB and Wikimedia Foundation's team. An IRB reviews research projects so that steps are taken to protect the rights and welfare of humans subjects taking part in the research. You may talk to them at (215) 762-3944 or email HRPP@drexel.edu for any of the following:

• Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
• You cannot reach the research team.
• You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
• You have questions about your rights as a research subject.
• You want to get information or provide input about this research.