From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Original research is research that is not exclusively based on a summary, review or synthesis of earlier publications on the subject of research. This material is of a primary source character. The purpose of the original research is to produce new knowledge, rather than to present the existing knowledge in a new form (e.g., summarized or classified).^[1][2]

Different forms

Original research can take a number of forms, depending on the discipline it pertains to. In experimental work, it typically involves direct or indirect observation of the researched subject, e.g., in the laboratory or in the field, documents the methodology, results, and conclusions of an experiment or set of experiments, or offers a novel interpretation of previous results. In analytical work, there are typically some new (for example) mathematical results produced, or a new way of approaching an existing problem. In some subjects which do not typically carry out experimentation or analysis of this kind, the originality is in the particular way existing understanding is changed or re-interpreted based on the outcome of the work of the researcher.

The degree of originality of the research is among major criteria for articles to be published in academic journals and usually established by means of peer review. Graduate students are commonly required to perform original research as part of a dissertation.^[3]

See also

• Originality

References

External links

• University of Kansas writing center
• Wikinfo original material (Wikinfo main page)

From Wikiversity

This page is now being developed and will be proposed as part of possible future Wikiversity policy, guideline, or processes for dealing with original research within Wikiversity. The ideas on this page are under discussion. The actual policy discussions will take place at the Wikiversity beta multi-lingual website, start at: Research guidelines. References or links to this page should not describe it as "policy".

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The original Wikiversity proposal of 2005 proposed that Wikiversity should, "test the limits of the wiki model both for developing electronic learning resources as well as for teaching and for conducting research and publishing results (within a policy framework developed by the community)". The creation of a system for dealing with research and publishing of results in a wiki environment is a major challenge facing the Wikiversity community.

Wikipedia has long had a rule against including original (primary) research (see Wikipedia:No original research). As described on that page, the policy against including original research in Wikipedia articles arose from the need to prevent cranks from publishing their crazy ideas in wiki format and passing them off as valid knowledge.

Wikiversity is devoted to explorations on both sides of the boundary between the known and the unknown. Learning how to participate in the on-going study of that boundary is one of the most important things that students can learn. Wikiversity cannot avoid original research and the critical educational task of passing the skills of original research from generation to generation.

For students, there is a natural progression from secondary research to primary (original) research. Thus, Wikiversity does not exclude original research, but Wikiversity still must deal with cranks. Wikiversity relies on the expert knowledge of Wikiversity participants (see Review board) to help recognize and exclude bogus content and the work of cranks. Within Wikiversity, all original research should be clearly identified as such. Sometimes the boundary between original research and secondary research is not clear. A critical review of previously published ideas can lead to the discovery of a new piece of knowledge. The invariable Rule of Wikiversity is that all such discoveries arising from secondary research (see Synthesis of published material serving to advance a position) must be subjected to peer review.

Casual peer review is automatic in the wiki user environment. However, casual peer review can be as dangerous as no peer review. Wiki editing decisions about original research cannot be allowed to degenerate into content disputes. If original research results arise from the activities of Wikiversity participants, they must be identified as such and subjected to a formal peer review process. The distinction between casual and formal peer review is important.

Formal peer review

Formal peer review involves a formal system of critical review of the original research result(s). The results of the formal critical review are permanently linked to the original research results and serve as a stamp of validation or a stamp of rejection. Any peer review process is only as good as the reviewers. Critical assessment of the qualifications of reviewers is required for formal peer review. Traditionally, peer reviewers are selected on the basis of credentials and a public record of trustworthy behavior. Wikipedia has developed a wiki-based system for identifying trusted Wikipedians, giving them special privileges and responsibilities, and monitoring subsequent actions by those trusted functionaries (administrators). Wikiversity needs to have a similar system for its formal peer review system. Such a system has been described at another wiki.

Page protection

Since Wikiversity does not prevent participants from crossing the line into original research and since Wikiversity participants are also encouraged to document their personal learning experiences, page protection at Wikiversity is slightly more complex than at Wikipedia. Wikiversity incorporates the page protection system of Wikipedia, but adds an additional element. Registered Wikiversity participants can protect pages that they create from modification by other Wikiversity editors. This allows Wikiversity participants to easily create "archive pages" that will document their own experiences, thoughts, plans and multiple stable versions of documents set aside for study and future reference. Decisions by Wikipedia users to protect pages are always subject to review and reversal by administrators. Pages that a user has created can be marked as protected using the page protection templates.

See also

• Wikiversity:Peer review
• Wikiversity:Publishing original research
• Peer reviewed wiki publishing
  • Flexibility in wiki publishing: author desires, peer review and citation
• An old discussion about research at Wikiversity - How are we going to find all of the old Wikiversity-related pages
• Wikiversity:Research Ethics
• Wikiversity:Review board
• Wikiversity:Secondary research