Research talk:Wikipedia, Edit-a-Thons, and Integrated Audiences

Some questions

When Ftripodi first contacted me about this study, I posed the following questions through email. I'm copying them here for the archives. I'll let Ftripodi re-answer them here. --Halfak (WMF) (talk) 14:25, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

- Thanks for all your help getting this moved along! Below - please find the answer to these questions: 

What's there nature and goal of your line of questions? (Probably answerable by writing up a study description)

I focus specifically on editors experiences working within Wikipedia and in their work on Edit-a-thons. I'm interested in the Content Gap so I ask questions regarding how they use edit-a-thons to address that gap and if they felt those solutions were effective. I also ask if they've received any pushback for their efforts to close the content gap. I conduct semi-structured interviews so based on what respondents discuss my questions are modified. Ftripodi 15:17, 21 October 2015‎ (UTC) signature added by Halfak (WMF)

Do you need a random sample for recruitment? Would a post on a public message board be OK?

I am ok with posting recruitment to a public message board. I do not need random sample - I need people who have participated in edit-a-thons or are working on content gap issues. However, if an avid editor would like to talk to me about why they DON'T participate in edit-a-thons I would certainly be interested in speaking to them. Ftripodi 15:17, 21 October 2015‎ (UTC) signature added by Halfak (WMF)

What's your timeframe? Do you have a publication deadline coming up or an academic threshold (graduating or semester project)?

I would like to have completed my interviews by December. My goal is to defend my dissertation in May of 2017 so I have time but also need time to transcribe, etc. so I would prefer to have interviews completed by the end of this semester if possible (but not necessary). Ftripodi 15:17, 21 October 2015‎ (UTC) signature added by Halfak (WMF)

Have you spent much time editing Wikipedia? If we can associate your recruitment with your wikipedia work that helps, but it is not necessary.

Unfortunately I'm not an avid editor. I love to edit during Edit-a-Thons and my own inexperience is part of what got me interested in Edit-a-Thons in the first place. I've attended multiple Edit-a-Thons and I'm hosting one next month at UVa. You're welcome to associate my recruitment with my work but sadly it's not very much work. Ftripodi 15:17, 21 October 2015‎ (UTC) signature added by Halfak (WMF)

My advice: Proceed as planned

Posting with my volunteer account because this is unofficial advice. I'm also Halfak (WMF).

Hi Ftripodi, it looks like

1. your recruitment methods are non-disruptive.
2. you have IRB approval from your university.
3. you've shown good-faith by following best practices regarding recruitment (documentation).
4. you've demonstrated your awareness of privacy concerns.

I think you're ready to continue recruitment. Make sure that any messages you post contain a link to this study description and add this page to your watchlist (click the star icon next to "view history" and the search box) so that you get notifications for new discussion here. Good luck with your studies! --EpochFail (talk) 16:36, 21 October 2015 (UTC)